Making cupcakes

Science

• The 3-year-old student learned about mixing ingredients together to create a new substance, which is an introduction to the concept of chemical reactions.
• They observed the cupcakes rising in the oven, providing an early understanding of the concept of how heat affects the properties of materials.
• The student learned about different states of matter as they observed the transformation of liquid batter into solid cupcakes after baking.

When continuing development related to making cupcakes, encourage the child to observe and hypothesize about the changes that occur during baking. This could lead to discussions about the science behind leavening agents and the role of ingredients like eggs and butter in baking.

Book Recommendations

• The Sprinkles Baking Book by Candace Nelson: This book is filled with fun cupcake recipes that encourage kids to understand the science behind baking.
• Science You Can Eat by Stefan Gates: This book explores the science of food in an engaging and accessible way for young children.