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Project challenge:

Marvelous Meringues

Suggested Ages: 3rd – 5th Grades

Explore the fascinating world of baking chemistry as you whip up an impressive dessert classic—sugary, crisp meringues. The meringue making process can sound daunting, but no need to fear! BE COURAGEOUS by giving it a shot and sweet treats will be your reward.

Engaging Design-It-Yourself projects to inspire young innovators

This is no ordinary DIY project for kids: It’s a step toward becoming an innovator.

 

Every Galileo Design-It-Yourself Challenge teaches the same techniques and mindsets that professional designers an engineers, artists and chefs use in their work. With skills like these, we believe you can change the world.

Get Involved—For Grown Ups

Materials list:

Help your child find these materials or a close substitute: 

 

  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon + ¼ cup white granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon powdered sugar
  • ¼ scant (not fully filled) teaspoon cream of tartar or ½ teaspoon lemon juice

 

Activity GUIDE:

Refer to these steps to keep young innovators on track as they create:

 

Support being courageous—If kids are reluctant to take on this recipe because it seems daunting, emphasize that by trying new baking skills they’ll be one-step closer to mastery, even if this particular batch doesn’t come out 100% as planned.

 

1.  Clean equipment—Make sure kids don’t skip this step. Greasy equipment is a common culprit of failed meringues!

 

2.  Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

 

3.  Prep powdered sugar blend.

 

4.  Separate the egg white.

  • Support kids as necessary with this tricky technique. (1:54)
  • Support being courageous—If kids are nervous about doing this, offer your presence for moral support but encourage them to try it themselves before you step in.

 

5.  Add cream of tartar and beat.

 

6.  Add sugar. 

 

7.  Add flavoring and mix until there are stiff peaks.

  • This takes awhile and it can get tiring for one person to do all the mixing. Support as necessary.
  • Ask: What do you notice about the texture of your mixture? Is it stiff enough yet?

 

8.  Add powdered sugar.

 

9.  Form the meringues—If piping, it’s helpful to have a helper hold the bag open so it’s easier to get the mix in.

 

10.  Bake for 45 minutes.

 

11.  Eat and take tasting notes—Print out the tasting note handout or just have kids answer the reflection prompts on a separate piece of paper.

 

More Ideas:

Every project presents opportunities to add your own twists or extensions. Here are some ideas to get you started: 

 

  • Once you’ve mastered getting the right texture for your mix the decorative possibilities are endless! Play around with forming your meringues into new shapes. You can also experiment with coloring them using food coloring.
  • Try chocolate dipped meringues. Dip the flat bottom of your meringue into some melted chocolate. Then cover the chocolate with toppings like sprinkles, nuts, mini chocolate chips, or crushed graham crackers.

 

Wrap Up Questions:

Lock in the learning by asking kids these questions about their project and how they practiced the featured Innovator’s Mindset element: 

 

  • What do you like about this batch of meringues? If you made them again what would you do differently?
  • Was there a part of this process where you felt nervous and had to be courageous to just try it? When? How do you feel now that you’ve gotten through it?
  • What are some things you did or tried that you’re proud of (whether your meringues turned out 100% as planned or not)?

SHARE!

The last step in the Gallieo Innovator’s Process is SHARE. Great learning can come from sharing successes and failures—to solidify your own experience as an innovator and to inspire others.

 

SHARE WITH galileo

 

Take a photo of your final meringues and share it with the Camp Galileo Anywhere Facebook Community.

 

Share with family and friends

 

Your innovation doesn’t stop with you. Inspire someone else by sharing your project challenge—maybe they’ll try it themselves or maybe your project will give them a new idea.

 

  • Who: someone in your house, a family member, a friend
  • How: in person, on the phone, online
  • When: anytime, starting now!