Uncle Astro Get Set

Uncle Astro Get Set Jellies Organiser’s Card Cosmic Gem About the activity This activity is designed to get children making and testing different jelly recipes. It’s Uncle Astro’s birthday so Cosmic and Gem have made him a special jelly with fresh pineapple rather than tinned. But the jelly won’t set! What could be causing it? Through this activity you will support your group to: • Make and test jellies with different types of fruit added. • Record their results • Produce a guide to making fruit jelly. Kit list • Jelly (any flavour will do) • Kettle and water • Spoons • Measuring jugs • Little dishes to put the jelly in • Pineapple – fresh and tinned (frozen optional) • Other types of fruit (optional) What to do 1. Introduce the activity using the story. Ask them if they have made jelly before. 2. Give out activity cards and equipment to the children. 3. Explain that they will be making some different jellies and comparing them. 4. Support children to make their jelly recipe. Ensure that the jelly is made following the normal instructions on the packet. The children should focus on adding different fruit rather than changing the way the jelly is made. Encourage them to explore a range of fruit. They will find that there are others that will stop the jelly setting properly. It is helpful to make a jelly without fruit to compare how it sets with ones that contain fruit. Scientists call this a control. 5. Support the children to compare their jelly to the other jellies, and to design a way to record 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 For many reasons, such as religion, some children cannot eat gelatine. Be sensitive to the group’s needs, perhaps they could try using alternatives to see what happens. Keywords • Jelly • Gelatine • Setting Watch out! The main safety issue is attached to making the jelly. It does need to be made with hot water so will need to be done with adult supervision. Do not taste the food unless hygiene is scrupulous. Also ensure that the hot jelly is not carried around until it has cooled. British Science Association Registered Charity No. 212479 and SC039236