Science News

Cooking Up Science at School!

This term, the science room is buzzing with excitement—and delicious smells! As part of our Chemical Sciences unit, students from all year levels are diving into hands-on cooking experiences to explore scientific concepts in a way that is fun, engaging, and memorable.

But why are we cooking in science? It’s not just for the taste test (although that’s a big bonus!)—it’s because the kitchen is one of the best real-life laboratories students can learn in.

In the lower year levels, students are learning about how ingredients can be mixed to create something new. From stirring to combining, they begin to see how different materials interact—a perfect introduction to the idea of substances, mixtures, and change.

In the middle years, the focus shifts to exploring solids, liquids, and gases, and how they change with temperature. We’ve introduced scientific vocabulary like emulsions, substances, and mixtures, and we’re seeing these ideas in action. As we cook, we watch chemical reactions occur—like caramelisation and the Maillard reaction, which give cooked food its rich colour and delicious aroma.

Meanwhile, our upper year levels are bringing their knowledge of plants and modern agriculture into the kitchen. Year 5 students, for example, have been learning about fungi and yeast and recently created mushroom focaccias—a big hit! They are now exploring reversible and irreversible changes such as melting, freezing, evaporating, steaming, whipping, frying, roasting, and baking.

Students are also learning valuable life skills, such as how to follow a recipe, measure accurately, and take responsibility in the kitchen. The goal isn’t just to make something edible (although we hope they do!)—it’s to build meaningful connections between scientific concepts and real-world experiences.

And the learning doesn’t stop at the school gate! Past students often recreate these recipes at home, becoming the teachers themselves as they share their knowledge and excitement with family.

So next time your child comes home smelling like pancakes or cookies, ask them: What did you learn about science today? You might be surprised at how much chemistry is happening on the plate!