Making Sourdough Starter in Home Ec

Making Sourdough Starter

Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

I teach a class to a small group of homeschooled girls on Mondays. My daughters, along with the rest of the Home Ec class, are stirring their sourdough starter. They were so excited to be stirring the yeast, flour, sugar, and water.

On the front table is a science experiment with yeast. I had 4 quart-size baggies each filled with 1 packet of yeast.
- Bag #1, had only yeast.
- Bag #2 had yeast and 1/4 cup warm water.
- Bag #3 had yeast, 1/4 cup warm water, and 1 tablespoon of sugar.
- Bag #4 had yeast, 1/4 cup warm water, and 1 tablespoon of flour.

We let the bags sit for 30 minutes while the girls made their sourdough starter at the second table and ate their pancakes.

After the plates were cleared, the girls sat down and one by one I picked up the bags and let them touch each one so they could see how the ingredients reacted with one another.

They were fascinated that each bag was totally different. Had them write what happened in each bag on their worksheet.