Fermentation Studies in Science Club

Now we go deeper into the wonderful wide world of Microbiology!

I brought in some Special Guests to help me incorporate some exploration of fermented foods, and some new hands-on projects, for this topic. Thank you to Ms. Jamie and Ms. Shelby for generously sharing your time, your energy, and your starter cultures!

Friday, October 18

Morning

• start gelatin plates (distilled water, unflavored gelatin, sugar, salt)

Afternoon

• put together the Waseca Biomes Tree of Life, look at fact file cards
• review Linnaean system of classification (Kings Play Chess on Fine Grains of Sand) and scientific names
• look at eight samples of yogurt and find Live Active Cultures in the ingredients list
  Stonyfield Organic Probiotic Whole Milk - Plain

  Oui - Peach

  Chobani Greek Yogurt Blended - Pumpkin & Spice

  Chobani Non-Dairy Coconut Based - Strawberry

  Icelandic Provisions Traditional Skyr - Peach Cloudberry

  Siggi's 0% Milkfat - Mixed Berries & Acai

  Noosa - Blueberry

  Libre Whole Milk Yogurt - Ecuadorian Mango

• presentation from Kombucha Special Guest (Ms. Jamie) with background on fermentation in general and kombucha in particular
• start batch of kombucha (1 gallon water, 1/4 cup loose leaf jasmine tea, 1 1/2 cups sugar, SCOBY), taste sweetness of initial water/tea/sugar blend, sample and taste tartness and carbonation in some finished batches (Peach Jasmine and Strawberry Jasmine)
  
  Kombucha Crafter's Logbook
  my special journal for keeping track of our notes!
• swab eight places in the house and add to prepared gelatin plates

Friday, October 25

• review Tree of Life, scientific names & kombucha from last week
• explain Kings Play Chess on Fine Grains of Sand for human beings (Kingdom Animal, Phylum Chordates, Class Mammals, Order Apes, Family Hominids, Genus Homo, Species sapiens)
• look at and sketch results of gelatin plate experiments
• presentation from Sourdough Special Guest (Ms. Shelby) about this early method of baking bread which dates way back to Ancient Egypt
• look at and smell sourdough starter, learn about it as an ecosystem with fungus and bacteria, learn about how to make a starter (1/2 cup whole wheat flour, 1/4 cup warm water, wild yeast which is in the air) and its feeding schedule (like taking care of a pet... or a really needy houseplant), answer student questions, begin our own starter (which we have named "Newt" and designated our Science Club mascot)
• taste the still-warm crusty sourdough loaf of bread she made for us!
  
  Starter Sourdough
  the book we have of instructions & recipes

  
  Artisan Sourdough Made Simple
  the book Ms. Shelby uses for her recipes

• art project for asexual reproduction (paint, folded piece of paper)
• discuss evolution and the theory of natural selection
• how long ago did life on our planet begin in order for us to have the massive variety of living things that we have on Earth today?
• introduce 2020 Timeline of Life calendar project for parent gifts

Create Your Own Calendar 8" x 8"

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