Growing yeast: do and review (non-statutory)
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can carry out and evaluate an investigation to find out about food sources for micro-organisms.
Key learning points
- Yeast consumes sugar and releases carbon dioxide gas as a result. This is called fermentation.
- Scientists control variables to see the effect of changing one variable.
- Fermentation can be observed over time and recorded using scientific diagrams, tables and charts.
- Scientists use the results of their enquiries to make a conclusion that addresses their investigation question.
- Scientists evaluate their investigations by thinking about how well they went and how reliable their results are.
Keywords
Yeast - Yeast is a type of fungus. It is a micro-organism used for making bread.
Carbon dioxide - Carbon dioxide is a type of gas.
Fermentation - Fermentation happens when yeast takes in nutrients from food and releases carbon dioxide and alcohol.
Conclusion - In a conclusion, scientists explain what the results show or mean.
Evaluation - The evaluation of an investigation includes what went well, what could have been improved and whether the investigation question was answered.
Common misconception
Pupils may think that a ‘fair test’ is one in which they all get an equal share in the roles or everyone gets to take a turn.
Explain that both a comparative and fair test are ones in which all variables are kept the same except for the one that is being investigated. This helps to ensure that our results show the effect of just the variable we are investigating.
Teacher tip
This is a follow-up from Lesson 9. While children are waiting for fermentation to happen in their bottles, you could demonstrate making bread dough with the ingredients from this enquiry. The dough could then be left to rise, allowing children to see fermentation in action with a real purpose.
Equipment
See additional materials for equipment list.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these are micro-organisms?
Q2.What is carbon dioxide?
Q3.Which type of micro-organism is yeast?
Q4.Which equipment could be used for measuring the amount of substances used in an enquiry?
Q5.What are nutrients?
Q6.Which variables must be kept the same in a comparative or fair test investigation?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these is the best food source for yeast?
Q2.When scientists describe what happened in an enquiry and explain what the results show or mean, it is called making a...
Q3.An evaluation of an enquiry is when…
Q4.Yeast takes in nutrients from food and releases carbon dioxide gas. This process is useful for baking and beer making and is called...
Q5.Lucas has been observing fermentation happening over time inside bottles containing a mixture of yeast, sugar and warm water. What evidence could he look for that would show fermentation is happening?
Q6.In a comparative test, scientists control to make sure their results show the effect of just one thing.
To help you plan your 6 science lesson on: Growing yeast: do and review (non-statutory), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 science lesson on: Growing yeast: do and review (non-statutory), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 science lessons from the Why we group and classify living things unit, dive into the full primary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.