Fermentation in a Bag
Provided by: Wisconsin Energy Institute|Published on: October 11, 2023|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6, 7, 8
Type: Lesson Plans
Subjects: Chemistry, Biology
Authors: Wisconsin Energy Institute
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- In this experiment, students will create ethanol through fermentation using a few common ingredients.
- Students will use warm water, dry active yeast, and feedstock to create ethanol and CO2 in a bag and measure the production of gas and ethanol using various tools.
- Students can also compare which feedstocks produce more CO2 or ethanol.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- A video and written instructions make it easy for teachers and students to understand the experiment.
- This resource contains a video on measuring fermentation rates without an ethanol probe, allowing many classrooms to perform the activity with few resources.
Additional Prerequisites
- This experiment can be extended into a complete lesson on biofuels using the resources at the bottom of the page.
- Students should know what ethanol is and its uses.
- It may benefit students to first learn about chemical and physical changes.
Differentiation
- Before beginning the experiment, the teacher can engage students and assess prior knowledge by reviewing chemical reactions.
- This experiment can fit within a larger unit on different types of alternative energy.
- This experiment can supplement a classroom discussion on new research related to corn-based ethanol or waste-based biofuels and their economic or environmental aspects.
This resource from The Wisconsin Energy Institute, the "Fermentation in a Bag" activity, is a hands-on experiment, and can be adapted for various grade levels to compare fermentation levels in feedstocks, which could be converted into biofuels. Additional resources are available to extend learning in the field of fermentation. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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