Testing and Comparing

Testing and Comparing Tea Organiser’s Card About the activity This activity is designed to get children thinking about diffusion. The children have been given a story about three brothers who gather tea from India, China and Japan, and cannot decide which tea is the best. Through this activity you will support your group to: • Explore different varieties and origins of tea. • Devise and carry out their own tea-making tests. • Host a tea party and find out which tea is the favourite. Kit list • A range of tea • Kettle • Water • Spoons • Measuring jugs • Beakers • Mugs or cups • Filter paper • Magnifying glasses or digital microscope What to do 1. Introduce the activity using the story from the activity card. Ask the children if they think they can help the brothers to decide which tea is best. 2. Give out activity cards and equipment to the children. 3. Explain that they will be using the equipment provided to test the different kinds of tea and methods for making tea. 4. Encourage children to discuss their ideas and how to carry out their investigations. Prompt questions: • How will they make sure their test is fair? • What is the difference between looking (observing closely) and liking (personal taste)? • How will they record their results? 5. Support children to conduct their tests and make their own records of their results. They could also take photographs or make drawings. 6. Ask the children to present their findings to the rest of the group, they can be as creative in their presentation as they want.

Things to think about To decide which is best, encourage children to look closely at the teas as well as do tests for taste etc. If children want to add milk and sugar to the tea, remember that for a fair test they must add the same amount to each cup. Professional tea tasters always taste the tea black! Cheaper tea bags often contain a lot of tea dust. You often find this in the box! Does this affect the taste and flavour? Keywords • Diffusion • Temperature • Filter Watch out! ! Children need adult supervision with kettles and boiling water. They could use hot tap water for some of their tests but temperature is one of the factors that affects the taste of tea. Drinking and tasting activities should NOT take place in laboratories. British Science Association Registered Charity No. 212479 and SC039236