Year 6: Is Yeast a Living Thing?

Today in science, we carried out an exciting investigation to answer the question: Is yeast a living thing?

To test this, we added warm water, one teaspoon of sugar, and a packet of yeast into a bottle, then carefully stretched a balloon over the top. We predicted what might happen and watched closely. Before long, we noticed the balloon beginning to inflate!

We learned that the yeast used the sugar for energy and released a gas called carbon dioxide. This gas filled the balloon, causing it to expand. From our observations, we concluded that yeast is a living thing, because it grows, reacts to its environment, and needs food to survive.

This investigation helped us practise our observation skills, make predictions, and draw conclusions like real scientists. It was a fun and memorable way to explore what it means for something to be alive!