|
Overview: In the book The Butter Battle Book, The Zooks and the Yooks are engaged in a long running battle about the proper way to eat bread and butter, butter side up or butter side down? Children will learn how to make butter and will design a "different" way to eat butter in an attempt to reunite the two nations.
Booklink: The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss, Random House, 1984. ISBN 0-394-86580-4
Science Activity Link: Two teams of "Zooks and Yooks" will work to make butter and create a different way to eat butter--a way which will finally be agreeable to both groups.
Objective: There are lots! The idea for this came during a unit on nutrition. I realized that many of the children did not know where butter came from and thought it was just another word of margarine. I found all the books I could on butter. When my students learned that people used to make butter at home they wanted to make it too. At the same time, the war in Iraq was about to begin and the kids were asking why Iraq and the United States just couldn't get together to talk over their problems. Ken reminded me of the Butter Battle Book and the idea took off from there. So, learning where butter comes from and how it's made is one objective and learning that we can work out our problems if we work together is another.
Science Processes and Content: Processes-Observing, predicting and validating, investigating, critical analyzing, communicating Content-origins of food, nutrition, food chains, technology
National Science Education Standards: Unifying Concepts and Processes, (1) Science as Inquiry, (5) Science and Technology, (6) Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, (8) Science as a Human Endeavor
Materials: The book The Butter Battle Book, 2 cartons (250 ml) of fresh cream, 2 large glass jars (well washed with tight fitting lids) A loaf of bread, paper plates, plastic knives (place jars in the freezer over night if it's very warm in your room)
Procedure:
1. Begin by reading The Butter Battle Book to the class. Discuss with the kids what could be done to reunite these two groups of people. Listen to all of their ideas and hope that someone suggests that they find a way to eat butter that would be agreeable to both groups. If no one suggests it then you can tell them that they can work in groups to find a new way to eat butter.
2. Divide the class into two groups-Yooks and Zooks.
3. Each group is given a set of instructions on how to make butter.
1) poor the cream into the jar.
2) screw the lid on carefully
3) sit down in a circle and take turns shaking the jar.
(count to ten, pass the jar to the next person)
4. This will take about 15 minutes. They will see when the butter is ready because a distinct yellow lump will form and they will see a cloudy white liquid surrounding the lump (buttermilk!)
5. When the butter is ready the investigations can begin. Have the children pour out the buttermilk (which you might want to save) and slide the butter onto a plate. They can each take a piece or two of bread and try to find a different way to butter their bread.
6. Each group presents their bread and butter alternatives and explains to the other group why their idea might work. Samples are offered to the other group.
7. Meet together to discuss all the alternatives. Is it possible for the Yooks and the Zooks to come to an agreement? Was one way really better than the other? Instead of making war wouldn't it be wonderful if people could sit down and talk over their problems?
8. You may wish to discuss with the children the origin of butter, trace it in a food chain that ends with them, consider its placement in the food pyramid, and describe how butter is made commercially--identifying butter-making technology.
Related Books:
The Better Butter Battle by Mary Pride, World Publishing, 1990. ISBN 094-3497930
Bread and Butter Journey by Anne Colver, Henry Holt Company, 1970. ISBN 0030187265
Let's Make Butter by Eleanor Christian, Pebble Books, 2000. ISBN 0736807284
Making Butter by Jenny Feely, Bt. Bound, 2001. ISBN 0613305884
From Grass to Butter by Ali Mitgutsch, First Avenue Editions, 1987. ISBN 0876144571
|
