How to Make Butter From Cream for Preschoolers
Butter is made by churning fermented cream or milk from a cow, but it can also be made from the milk of other animals, such as goats, buffalo and sheep. You can show the process by allowing the children to turn dairy cream into butter. Teaching preschoolers about butter allows them to experience the process firsthand. Once the children make their own butter, they can enjoy their creation with a slice of bread or snack crackers.
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Things You'll Need
- Baby food jars with lids
- Lint-free towel
- Antibacterial soap
- Heavy cream
- Strainer
- Cup
- Spoon
- Salt
- Crackers or bread
Instructions
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1
Wash the small glass jars and lids with hot soapy water. Dry them off with a clean lint-free towel.
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2
Instruct the children to wash their hands with antibacterial soap. This will help keep everything sanitary.
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3
Show the preschoolers the butter. Explain to the children that butter is a fat that has been removed from the milk of a cow, and that heavy cream is used to make the butter.
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4
Fill each preschooler's jar three-fourths of the way full with heavy cream. Help the children to screw the lids tightly on the jars.
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5
Instruct the children to shake the jars. When they shake the jars, the children are churning the butter. They will need to shake the jars until the butter forms, which may take up to 20 minutes. Assist the children when needed, or read them a story while they make the butter.
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Pour each preschooler's butter and liquid inside the jars into a strainer. Place a cup under the strainer to catch the buttermilk. Rinse the butter under cool water, and then press it down into the jar with a spoon.
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7
Add a pinch of salt to each jar of butter if you desire. Spread the butter on crackers or bread for the children to sample. Refrigerate the leftover butter.
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Tips & Warnings
Make butter in only one jar and have the preschoolers pass it around to churn the butter to prevent any accidents and to ensure that the children stay focused. You can also separate the children into groups with one jar, so that they can take turns shaking it to make the butter.
Add a drop of food coloring to the heavy cream to create colorful butter.
Supervise the children carefully when they make the butter, because the lids may slip off or they may accidentally drop the glass jars.
Ensure that the preschoolers do not have allergies to butter or dairy products before you begin the experiment.
References
- Photo Credit bread and butter image by Brett Mulcahy from Fotolia.com
