Can we make butter?
Grade
Subjects
How does this align with my curriculum?
Curriculum Alignment
AB
11
Science 24 (2003, Updated 2014)
Unit C: Disease Defence and Human Health
NU
11
Science 24 (Alberta, 2003, Updated 2014)
Unit C: Disease Defence and Human Health
NT
11
Science 24 (Alberta, 2003, Updated 2014)
Unit C: Disease Defence and Human Health
AB
11
Biology 20 (2007, Updated 2014)
Unit D: Human Systems
BC
12
Anatomy & Physiology 12 (June 2018)
Big Idea: Homeostasis is maintained through physiological processes.
MB
11
Grade 11 Biology (2010)
Unit 2: Digestion and Nutrition
NB
11
Biology 112/111 (2008)
Unit 3: Maintaining Dynamic Equilibrium I
NB
12
Biology 122/121 (2008)
Unit 1: Genetic Continuity
NS
11
Biology 11/Advanced Biology 11 (2012, 2019)
Unit 3: Maintaining Dynamic Equilibrium I
NU
11
Biology 20 (Alberta, 2007, Updated 2014)
Unit D: Human Systems
ON
11
Biology, Grade 11, College (SBI3C)
Strand B: Cellular Biology
ON
12
Biology, Grade 12, University (SBI4U)
Strand B: Biochemistry
ON
12
Science, Grade 12, University/College (SNC4M)
Strand D: Nutritional science
ON
12
Science, Grade 12, Workplace (SNC4E)
Strand F: Nutritional science
PE
11
Biology 521A (2010)
Maintaining Dynamic Equilibrium I
YT
12
Anatomy & Physiology 12 (British Columbia, June 2018)
Big Idea: Homeostasis is maintained through physiological processes.
SK
11
Health Science 20 (2016)
Nutrition
NT
11
Biology 20 (Alberta, 2007, Updated 2014)
Unit D: Human Systems
NL
11
Biology 2201 (2020)
Unit 2: Processes that Sustain Life
BC
3
Science Grade 3 (June 2016)
Big Idea: All matter is made of particles.
NB
2
You and Your World (K-2) (2005)
Unit 5 – Change and the Physical Environment
NL
2
Science 2 (2016)
Unit 2: Solids and Liquids
NS
2
Science 2 (2019)
Physical Science: Liquids and solids
NS
P
Science Primary (2019)
Learners will investigate sand and water through the senses
NU
2
K-6 Science and Technology Curriculum (NWT, 2004)
Matter and Materials: Properties of Liquids and Solids
PE
2
Science Grade 2 (2012)
Physical Science
QC
Elementary Cycle 1
Science and Technology, Elementary
Material World
YT
3
Science Grade 3 (British Columbia, June 2016)
Big Idea: All matter is made of particles.
SK
2
Science Grade 2 (2011)
Physical Science – Liquids and Solids (LS)
ON
2
Science and Technology, Grades 2 (2022)
Strand C. Matter and Energy; Properties of Liquids and Solids
NT
2
K-6 Science and Technology Curriculum (NWT, 2004)
Matter and Materials: Properties of Liquids and Solids
BC
1
Science Grade 1 (June 2016)
Big Idea: Matter is useful because of its properties.
BC
2
Science Grade 2 (June 2016)
Big Idea: Materials can be changed through physical and chemical processes.
BC
K
Science K (June 2016)
Big Idea: Humans interact with matter every day through familiar materials.
MB
1
Science Grade 1 (1999)
Cluster 3: Characteristics of Objects and Materials
MB
3
Science Grade 3 (1999)
Cluster 2: Materials and Structures
MB
5
Science Grade 5 (2000)
Cluster 2: Properties of and Changes in Substances
NL
1
Science 1 (2015)
Unit 2: Materials and Our Senses
NL
3
Science 3 (2017)
Unit 2: Materials and Structures
NL
5
Grade 5 Science (2017)
Unit 3: Properties and Changes in Materials
NL
K
Exploring My World (2010)
Using Things Around Us
NS
1
Science 1 (2019)
Physical Science: Materials, objects, and devices
NS
3
Science 3 (2019)
Physical Science: Structures
NS
5
Science 5 (2019)
Physical Science: Chemical and Physical Properties
NS
P
Science Primary (2019)
Learners will investigate materials through the senses
NU
1
K-6 Science and Technology Curriculum (NWT, 2004)
Matter and Materials: Characteristics of Objects and Properties of Materials
NU
5
K-6 Science and Technology Curriculum (NWT, 2004)
Matter and Materials: Properties of and Changes in Matter
ON
K
The Kindergarten Program (2016)
13. use the processes and skills of an inquiry stance (i.e., questioning, planning, predicting, observing, and communicating)
PE
1
Science Grade 1 (2012)
Physical Science
PE
3
Science Grade 3 (2012)
Physical Science: Invisible Forces
PE
K
Science K (June 2016)
Big Idea: Humans interact with matter every day through familiar materials.
QC
Elementary Cycle 2
Science and Technology, Elementary
Material World
QC
Elementary Cycle 3
Science and Technology, Elementary
Material World
QC
P
Preschool Education
Learnings Related to Cognitive Development
YT
2
Science Grade 2 (British Columbia, June 2016)
Big Idea: Materials can be changed through physical and chemical processes.
SK
1
Science Grade 1 (2011)
Physical Science – Using Objects and Materials (OM)
SK
3
Science Grade 3 (2011)
Physical Science – Structures and Materials (SM)
SK
5
Science Grade 5 (2011)
Physical Science – Properties and Changes of Materials (MC)
SK
K
Kindergarten (2010)
Physical Science: Materials and Objects (MO)
ON
1
Science and Technology, Grades 1 (2022)
Strand D: Everyday Materials, Objects, and Structures
ON
5
Science and Technology, Grade 5 (2022)
Strand C: Properties of and Changes in Matter
NT
1
K-6 Science and Technology Curriculum (NWT, 2004)
Matter and Materials: Characteristics of Objects and Properties of Materials
NT
5
K-6 Science and Technology Curriculum (NWT, 2004)
Matter and Materials: Properties of and Changes in Matter
PE
5
Science Grade 5 (2012)
Materials
PE
5
Integrated Curriculum Grade 5: Science (Draft 2023)
DK 1.3: Physical and chemical changes can assist us in daily life and improve the world around us.
BC
5
Science Grade 5 (June 2016)
Big Idea: Solutions are homogeneous.
BC
6
Science Grade 6 (June 2016)
Big Idea: Everyday materials are often mixtures.
MB
7
Science Grade 7 (2000)
Cluster 2: Particle Theory of Matter
NL
7
Science Grade 7 (2013)
Unit 3: Mixtures and Solutions
PE
7
Science Grade 7 (revised 2016)
Physical Science: Mixtures and Solutions
QC
Sec I
Science and Technology
Material World: Changes
QC
Sec II
Science and Technology
Material World: Changes
YT
5
Science Grade 5 (British Columbia, June 2016)
Big Idea: Solutions are homogeneous.
YT
6
Science Grade 6 (British Columbia, June 2016)
Big Idea: Everyday materials are often mixtures.
SK
7
Science Grade 7 (2009)
Physical Science – Mixtures and Solutions (MS)
ON
7
Science and Technology, Grade 7 (2022)
Strand C: Pure Substances and Mixtures
Do you like butter? Find out how easy it is to make!
What You Need
- 60 mL (~1/4 cup) whipping cream
- Small, clear plastic container with a lid
- Cracker or slice of bread
Safety First!
Be careful working with liquids. They can be slippery if spilled. Adult assistance is needed for young children when using liquids.
What To Do
- Pour the cream into the container and immediately tighten the lid. Is the cream a liquid or a solid?
- Shake the cream for a few minutes. Has the cream changed? Do you see a liquid or a solid? (You should see a small ball forming and some watery looking liquid.)
- Continue shaking the container until a well-defined ball has formed. Is the ball a solid or a liquid? Pour off the liquid (this is called buttermilk; you can taste it if you like!). Taste the remaining unsalted butter by spreading it on a cracker or bread. If desired, salt can be added to taste.
Discovery
Cream (and milk) is a mixture of molecules that dissolve in water and molecules that make up fat. Normally in cream, the tiny fat molecules are suspended throughout the non-fat liquid and cannot be seen. When the cream is shaken, the fat molecules bump into each other, stick together and start to form a ball. Some of the non-fat parts get trapped in the ball as well. The ball that forms is butter and the remaining liquid is buttermilk.
Fascinating fact:
It takes 21 kg (~45 lbs) of fresh milk to make 1 kg (~2 lbs) of butter.
Many of the foods we eat come from other common foods. Understanding the components and learning how you can get a solid from a liquid are both interesting to know, as well as a good way to determine if liquids contain fat.
- Cream is very high in fat. Do you think you could get the same results if you were to use table cream or homogenized milk?
- What happens when you melt butter? Can you still get some liquid and some solid when the melted butter cools, or does it all become solid?
For more information on this topic check out these Let's Talk Science resources:
- What happens when we mix liquids? (Hands-on Activities) - Mix it up! What happens when you mix different liquids? Learn about the properties of liquids as you get mixing.
- Properties of Liquids and Solids (Lessons) - Students develop and apply observing, comparing & contrasting and predicting skills as they explore the properties of common liquids and solids.
What’s happening?
Cream (and milk) is a mixture of molecules that dissolve in water and molecules that make up fat. Normally in cream, the tiny fat molecules are suspended throughout the non-fat liquid and cannot be seen. When the cream is shaken, the fat molecules bump into each other, stick together and start to form a ball. Some of the non-fat parts get trapped in the ball as well. The ball that forms is butter and the remaining liquid is buttermilk.
Fascinating fact:
It takes 21 kg (~45 lbs) of fresh milk to make 1 kg (~2 lbs) of butter.
Why does it matter?
Many of the foods we eat come from other common foods. Understanding the components and learning how you can get a solid from a liquid are both interesting to know, as well as a good way to determine if liquids contain fat.
Investigate further
- Cream is very high in fat. Do you think you could get the same results if you were to use table cream or homogenized milk?
- What happens when you melt butter? Can you still get some liquid and some solid when the melted butter cools, or does it all become solid?
For more information on this topic check out these Let's Talk Science resources:
- What happens when we mix liquids? (Hands-on Activities) - Mix it up! What happens when you mix different liquids? Learn about the properties of liquids as you get mixing.
- Properties of Liquids and Solids (Lessons) - Students develop and apply observing, comparing & contrasting and predicting skills as they explore the properties of common liquids and solids.