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Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix

Indiana Agriculture in the Classroom

Lesson Plan

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FoodMASTER Middle: Yogurt

Grade Level
6 - 8
Purpose

Students will learn the role of bacterial fermentation and evaluate the effect of fat content, sugar content (lactose), and temperature in bacterial fermentation as they make yogurt. Grades 6-8 

Estimated Time
Two 1-hour activities
Materials Needed

Teacher Materials:

  • 2-3 hot plates or 1 double burner to heat milk
  • 3 thermometers (Celsius or Fahrenheit)
  • 3 or 4 medium to large pots
  • 4 heavy-duty plastic bottles to hold hot water (8 ounces or larger)
  • water
  • 2 medium or large coolers for incubation (20 oz. or larger)
  • Plain yogurt (1 - 6 ounce container provides enough yogurt for 1 class)
  • Ice (enough for 1 cooler)
  • Lactose-free milk (heat 1 cup per assigned group)
  • Skim milk (heat 1 cup per assigned group)
  • Whole milk (heat 1 cup per assigned group plus 2 additional cups) (see step 4-5 in Procedures)
  • 2 styrofoam cups labeled “whole milk- cold”

Student Materials, per group of 4-5 students:

Note: Milk needed for the lab is listed under teacher materials. Students will be directed to obtain their assigned milk from the teacher in the lab procedure.

  • Magnificent Microbes lab sheet, 1 copy per student (Key)
  • 1 Styrofoam cup
  • 1 Liquid measuring cup
  • 1 Black permanent marker
  • 1 Tablespoon
  • 1 Thermometer (Celsius or Fahrenheit)
  • 1 - 4x4 square aluminum foil
  • 1 Cup of assigned heated milk
  • 1 Paper cup containing slightly more than 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt
  • Safety goggles
  • aprons (optional)

Lab Extension Materials

  • Active culture sample (store bought plain yogurt)
  • 1 microscope slide and cover slips
  • 1 microscope cell stain
  • 1 medicine dropper
  • 1 small cup of water
Vocabulary

active cultures: also called a live culture; a colony of living microorganisms (e.g. bacteria), growing within a substance such as yogurt

bacteria: a group of single-celled living things that cannot be seen without a microscope that reproduce rapidly and sometimes cause diseases

fermentation: a food-based reaction caused by the action of enzymes that breaks compounds into simpler substances; used for food preservation and preparation

yogurt: a milk-based food product that is prepared from the bacteria of fermented milk

Did You Know?
  • Yogurt was created by accident. Many historical accounts attribute the origins of this creamy treat to primitive methods of milk storage in containers made of animal stomachs. The natural enzymes curdled the milk resulting in what we now know as yogurt.1
  • Greek yogurt is gaining popularity over regular yogurt due to it's higher protein content and creamy texture.2
  • Yogurt is alive with "good" bacteria called lactobacillus bulgaricus and streptococcus thermophilus which improves digestive health.3
Background Agricultural Connections

FoodMASTER (Food, Math and Science Teaching Enhancement Resource) is a compilation of programs aimed at using food as a tool to teach mathematics and science. For more information see the Background and Introduction to FoodMaster Middle document. This lesson is one in a series of lessons designed for middle school. 

Weights & Measures        Fruits                  Milk                    Sugar                   Protein             
Food Safety Vegetables Cheese Fats & Oils Eggs
Energy Balance Grains Yogurt    


Milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream are all part of the dairy group. Drinking milk helps build strong bones. Unfortunately, most Americans do not drink or eat enough foods from the dairy group every day. For this reason, it is important to learn about the science and nutrition of dairy foods. In this lesson, students will explore milk by learning about the role of bacteria in yogurt production and the many health benefits associated with consuming dairy products.

When milk is fermented with bacteria, the sugar in milk, lactose, will turn into lactic acid. The lactic acid will cause the milk to curdle and thicken. This process is used to make certain dairy products, like yogurt. Yogurt is made my mixing two types of bacteria, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilous. In mass yogurt production, bacteria are added to milk and the mixture is heated. The heating process promotes fermentation and helps the yogurt develop the desired consistency, flavor and acidity. Once the desired consistency has been reached, the fermentation process is stopped. The yogurt can then be chilled or heated. Chilling allows the bacterial culture or active culture to stay alive. If the yogurt is heated, the cultures are destroyed. Consuming these products will help maintain and/ or restore normal intestinal bacteria.

Engage
  1. Tell students that you are thinking of a food that requires bacteria and fermentation to make. Allow students time to think, then ask them if they can name the food you are thinking of (yogurt).
  2. Provide further clues until students can identify yogurt as the food you are thinking of. Examples include:
    • This food is considered "live" because it has active bacteria cultures.
    • This food contains "good" bacteria that aides in digestion.
    • This food is sweet, tangy and creamy.
    • It comes in many forms including low fat, fat free, and Greek.
  3. Ask if students know how yogurt is made. Show the video clip, How It's Made: Yogurt. 
Explore and Explain

Lab: Magnificent Microbes

Teacher Preparation:

  1. Review information found in the Background Agricultural Connections section of the lesson, lesson Procedures, and the attached Essential Files.
  2. Note that this lab investigation will take two days to complete. Students will set up the lab investigation on day 1 and will complete the investigation on day 2.
  3. Prepare materials for each group. It is recommended that you plan approximately one-week ahead to allow time to gather needed materials. You will need to have coolers and ice on hand the day the investigation begins. Additional coolers may be needed if you plan to complete the lesson with multiple classes.
  4. Assign each group a milk type. During the investigation, each group should receive 1 cup of their assigned milk type. For example, if you have six groups, two groups will receive 1 cup of  heated lactose-free milk, two groups will receive 1 cup of heated skim milk, and two groups will receive 1 cup of heated whole milk (each heated to 175° F).
  5. You will also need to heat an additional 2 cups of whole milk for student observations of heated whole milk placed in a cold environment. After heating the milk to 175°F, allow it to cool to 120°F. Pour 1 cup of milk into two separate styrofoam cups. Then stir in 1 Tbsp. of plain yogurt.
  6. Toward the end of the investigation:
    • Boil enough hot water to fill the four heavy-duty plastic bottles with very hot water and place them in one of the coolers. This will act as an incubator for the warm environment.
    • Fill the second cooler with enough ice to fill half way. This cooler will act as the cold environment. If accessible, a refrigerator can be used as an alternative to the cooler.
    • Each group will leave 1 cup of their assigned milk type (whole milk, lactose-free milk, or skim milk) in the warm cooler. For the class to observe, you should also place 2 cups, filled with heated whole milk, in a cold cooler (ice-filled) overnight.
    • Students will record observations the following day.

Lab Procedures:

  1. Distribute lab materials. It is recommended that materials are organized into stations for easier distribution. Students should be arranged in small groups of 4-5. Each group should receive the lab supplies outlined in the Materials section as well as 1 copy of the Magnificent Microbes lab sheet.
  2. Before beginning the lab investigation:
    • Require students to wash their hands.
    • For food safety reasons, DO NOT allow students to taste any of the yogurt samples. It is not safe to taste sample due to the inability to completely control contamination from bacteria present in the surrounding environments. If you would like your students to taste different types of yogurt, purchase pre-packaged yogurt from a store. Packaged yogurt should be refrigerated until tasting.
    • Emphasize the importance of practicing good food safety behaviors by not consuming substances used as part of the lab investigation.
  3. Launch Day 1 of the lab by asking students to make a prediction about which milk type will produce the most yogurt and why (see top of page 2 of the lab sheet.
  4. You (teacher) should prepare the milk (see Teacher Pre-Lab Preparation). Students will allow milk to cool and then mix in plain yogurt. Yogurt is produced from bacterial fermentation of milk. The lactose in milk is fermented by the bacteria. Bacteria or “yogurt cultures” used to make the yogurt in this lab are obtained from the addition of the plain yogurt. The bacteria will ferment the lactose present in the milk and produce lactic acid. The lactic acid will act on the milk protein, providing yogurt with its characteristic texture and tang.
  5. Instruct students to make visual observations of their assigned milk type. Students should specifically observe the texture, color, and odor. Groups should then be allowed to share their assigned milk types to allow students to complete Table A on the 4th page of their lab sheet.
  6. Begin Day 2 of the lab by showing students the provided video lab demonstration, Lab: Magnificent Microbes. The video will help students understand what they should see in their milk mixtures on day two of the lab. 
  7. Instruct students to gather the milk samples they stored on day 1. Students should make observations of their assigned milk type. Students should specifically observe differences in texture, color, and odor. Do not forget to pass out the cold storage whole milk samples for students to observe. Observations should be recorded on Table A of the lab sheet.
    1. Lactose-free Milk (Warm Storage): Students should observe a small amount of liquid on top of the milk. When stirring, the milk should have a thick texture; however, compared to skim and whole milk the texture will be less thick. This milk type will be less thick compared to skim and whole milk due to the absence of lactose. Typically in yogurt production, lactose is fermented by the bacteria producing the lactic acid needed to produce yogurt.
    2. Skim Milk (Warm Storage): Students should observe very little liquid on top and the thickness should between Lactose-Free and Whole Milk-Warm.
    3. Whole Milk (Cold Storage): Students should observe no formation of yogurt, however, a small amount of liquid may be produced.
    4. Whole Milk (Warm Storage): Students should observe formation of a thick yogurt with little to no liquid produced on top. The comparison between the cold and warm storage will demonstrate the role of temperature in yogurt production. Warm temperatures are needed to encourage bacterial growth. Temperatures that are too hot or cold will negatively impact bacterial growth and may cause denaturation of the milk proteins.
  8. Allow students to work in small groups on the Magnificent Microbes lab sheet and respond to lab questions. Encourage students to refer to the table in the reading to help support their conclusions. Answers to the questions can be found in the attached Teacher Key.
    • (Optional) Launch the lab extension by allowing students to observe an active yogurt culture under a microscope.
Elaborate

  • Explore the effects of temperature on yogurt. Put a tablespoon of yogurt in 2 different containers. Place one in a warm, dark environment like a cabinet and place the other one in the refrigerator. After 24 hours, put a sample of each on a microscope slide with a drop of water and compare. Observe the bacteria under the microscope. Draw the bacteria.

  • Explore bacteria in yogurt with and without live/active cultures. Use a microscope to observe the bacteria in yogurt. Prepare a slide using a drop of water and yogurt with active cultures and a slide using a drop of water and yogurt without active cultures. What shape are the bacteria? Draw the bacteria.

  • Bring in a variety of yogurt types for tasting – compare and contrast nutritional content, flavors, and textures.

  • Follow-up with a class discussion about fermentation and its role in yogurt production. It may also be a good time to discuss good and bad bacteria. Yogurt production is an excellent example of good bacteria at work. Explore an example of potentially harmful bacteria by completing Lab 3 in the FoodMASTER Middle: Food Safety lesson where students further explore bacteria by observing mold growth in aerobic and anaerobic environments. 

Sources
  1. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/26/yogurt-fun-facts_n_4952223.htm
  2. https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887324886704579052974211438870?utm_source=huffingtonpost.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pubexchange_article
  3. http://mentalfloss.com/article/63073/12-tangy-facts-about-yogurt
Acknowledgements

This lesson was partnered with East Carolina University. The FoodMASTER program was supported by the Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) which is funded from the National Center for Research Resources, a component of the National Institutes of Health.

  • Primary Authors:
    • Virginia Stage, PhD, RDN, LDN
    • Mary White
    • Ashley Roseno, MAEd, MS, RDN, LDN
    • Melani W. Duffrin, PhD, RDN, LDN
  • Graphic Design: Cara Cairns Design, LLC
Recommended Companion Resources
Author
FoodMASTER
Organization
FoodMASTER
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