Cheesy Challenge

Cheesy Challenge Organiser’s Card About the activity This activity is designed to get children thinking about how milk is changed into cheese. Cosmic and Gem are confused about how milk turns into cheese. Can the children make their own cheese? Through this activity you will support your group to: • Think about what they already know about cheese • Make their own cheese • Research other milk products Kit list • A cup of semi skimmed or skimmed milk each • Lemon juice (or vinegar) • A spoon, a bowl (for heating in the microwave) or a small pan (for heating on the cooker) • A sieve, a bowl and a piece of very clean, thin cloth to strain the milk • Salt • Other flavourings (optional) What to do 1. Introduce the activity using the story. 2. Give out activity cards and equipment to the children. 3. Explain that they will be making their own cheese today. 4. Encourage children to discuss their ideas and how cheese is made. 5. Support children to follow the cheese recipe on the activity card and make their own records of their results. 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 Skimmed milk works well for this activity. The fat, which is used to make other milk products such as cream, is not needed to make cheese. If you leave the cheese for a while to let more of the liquid drain out you will get a slightly firmer cheese. The liquid (whey), which is left over after making the cheese, can be used in recipes to make food such as bread, soup and cakes. Lots of children may be dairy or lactose intolerant. As with previous activities, you could encourage them to find out what happens if they use alternative. Keywords • Milk • Curdling • Cheese • State • Reversible changes • Irreversible changes Watch out! The milk needs to be heated. This must be done with adult supervision. Cover tables with clean paper cloths. The cheese can be eaten if everything has been kept clean. Do not eat the cheese unless it is fresh. British Science Association Registered Charity No. 212479 and SC039236