Steps for How to Make Butter in the First Grade

First graders will enjoy making their own creamy butter.

It's hard to beat the delicious taste of fresh-churned butter. For a classroom activity first graders will remember for years, let the students make their own jar of butter. With a few simple ingredients and easy-to-follow steps, the young children participate in an activity that is not only fun, but is practical and tastes great.

Things You'll Need

• Heavy cream
• Salt (optional)
• Jar with a lid

Instructions

1. Pour some heavy cream into a jar until about half-full.

2. Screw the lid on tight, so no liquid can escape.

3. Shake the jar for about 10 to 20 minutes. Keep the students entertained by playing Simon Says, and have them mimic you as they shake the jar up and down, back and forth, or in a circular motion.

4. Strain the butter. After your intense shaking, the cream separates into a glob with some liquid. Pour the contents of the jar over a strainer. Place the chunks (the butter) back in the jar with a sprinkle of salt if you'd like, for the students to take home.

Tips & Warnings

• Refrigerate the jar for about an hour before making the butter, to keep the cream colder.

• Reserve the liquid you strained from the butter; it's buttermilk.

References

• Food Network; Homemade Butter; Emeril Lagasse; 2002
• Zoom: Butter
• Idaho State University: Homemade Butter
• Post Gazette; In the Kitchen with Suzanne Martinson; Homemade Butter; Suzanne Martinson; 2000