Typically completed by 3-11 year olds, CREST Star and SuperStar challenges relate to everyday experiences. Children complete six to eight activities to gain a CREST Award, with each activity taking between 45 minutes and one hour to complete.
The activities are designed to be easy-to-run and low-cost. You don’t need to be a teacher, have a science background or have access to specialist equipment to run them. The packs contain helpful hints and tips for you to use, explaining the scientific themes and offering guidance on conversation topics for your children.
There are more CREST approved resources that have been developed by our partners and providers specific to your region.
To browse the packs, click the buttons below or scroll down.
Cheesy Challenge Activity Card Cosmic and Gem are having a picnic. They are tucking into glasses of cool milk and tasty cheese sandwiches. “Isn’t it amazing that they can turn a white runny liquid into cheese?” Cosmic wonders out loud. Gem stops chewing and looks at the cheese and then at the milk. She has a puzzled look on her face. “How do they do that?” Gem asks. “It’s fascinating! We need to do some investigating. I think a little bit of chemistry might help.” Your challenge Can you help Cosmic and Gem find out how milk is turned into cheese? Discuss Take a look at some cheese and milk. Talk about what you already know about it.
Getting started Ingredients A cup of semi skimmed or skimmed milk Lemon juice 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 and other flavourings (optional) Clean hands, equipment and table Cheese Recipe Method 1. Pour 1 cup of milk into a bowl or small pan. Heat it in the microwave or on the cooker until the milk just begins to boil. If it is on the cooker, keep stirring to stop it burning. 2. Remove from the heat. Add lemon juice a few drops at a time and keep stirring gently. 3. Keeping adding lemon juice until the milk starts to go very lumpy (curdle). Let it cool. 4. Put a sieve on top of a bowl and put a cloth in the sieve. 5. Pour the milk into the sieve and let all the liquid (the whey) run through into the bowl. The lumps (called curds) will stay in the cloth. 6. Lift up the cloth and gently squeeze out more of the liquid. You have now made some cheese! Add a little salt and any other flavours that you like. Test your ideas Is cheese only made from cow’s milk? What different types of cheese are there? Are they all made in the same way? Do people eat cheese everywhere around the world? When was cheese first made? Can the whey be used for anything? Share your ideas What kind of cheese have you made? Does it look like any of the cheese that you buy in the shops? What does it taste like? Make a poster showing how a little chemistry helps to turn milk into cheese. Put it on display. Extra things to do Here are some other milk products. Can you find out how they are made and what they are used for? Not all milk comes from animals. Can you spot which ones do not and find out more about them? Yoghurt Sour cream Lassi Ghee Cream Smetana Butter Clotted cream Condensed milk Creme fraiche Kaymak Buttermilk British Science Association Registered Charity No. 212479 and SC039236
Challenges collection Suitable for
NVESTIGATING INK Discuss What ways
Things to think about Encourage the
Getting started Think about how oth
Things to think about The cups and
Getting started Some of your fellow
CALAMITY What to do 1. Read the ACT
Getting started A kite is made up o
What to do MAKING TOOTHPASTE 1. Rea
Your challenge Bright Smile Toothpa
OUTDOOR GYM OUTDOOR GYM Outdoor Gym
Outdoor Gym R GYM Activity Card You
Test your ideas Which parts of the
Things to think about In this activ
Discuss Can you think of any intere
Playground Games PLAYGROUND GAMES O
Playground Games PLAYGROUND GAMES A
Polymer Problem Organiser’s Card
Polymer Problem Activity Card To: Y
Protecting Polymers Organiser’s C
Protecting Polymers Activity Card Y
ACING ROCKETS Racing Rockets Organi
Keywords • Aerodynamics • Fligh
Discuss Are all rockets the same sh
What to do 1. Read the ACTIVITY CAR
RECYCLE REUSE Recycle Reuse Activit
Spinning Solutions Organiser’s Ca
Spinning Solutions Activity Card Ri
Super Spinners Organiser’s Card A
SUPER SPINNERS Take it further In t
Getting started SUPER SPINNERS You
Things to think about Many of the p
Getting started Here is what Frank
Testing and Comparing Tea Organiser
Testing and Comparing Tea Activity
Tomato Sauce Organiser’s Card TOM
Keywords • Sauce • Viscosity SA
Discuss TOMATO SAUCE How thick do y
Things to think about Some trees wi
Getting started Some fellow investi
What to do 1. Read the ACTIVITY CAR
TUMBLING TOAST Tumbling Toast TUMBL
Under Your Feet Organiser’s Card
Take it further There is a wide ran
Getting started Cut a big foot shap
Things to think about Scientists ar
Getting started You could start by
Windy Ways Organiser’s Card About
Windy ways Activity Card NEWS NEWS
Worm Charming Organiser’s Card Ab
Keywords • Nature • Vibration
WORM CHARMING Getting started Make
6. Help the children to make their
Getting started Before you start wa
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Collections of one hour challenges recommended for children aged 3-7 years that relate to children’s everyday experiences. Find out more about this level and how to gain a CREST Award on the CREST Star page.
Collections of one hour challenges recommended for children aged 7-11 years that relate to broader situations that children are likely to have come across. Find out more about this level and how to gain a CREST Award on the CREST SuperStar page.
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