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Notes for teachers

Context: "Baozi" (steamed bun) is a traditional Chinese food commonly eaten as a breakfast or snack. It consists of a soft, fluffy dough filled with a variety of savory or sweet fillings. Popular fillings include pork, beef, chicken, shrimp, and vegetables. Bao are typically steamed, which gives them a delicate texture and preserves the flavors of the fillings. As a traditional Chinese delicacy, Baozi has become a symbol of Chinese culture. This unit combines Chinese culture with science by making Baozi to understand how yeast works. Additionally, students get to enjoy the delicious taste of Baozi which are made by themselves.

For beginners, avoid using vegetable fillings as they can make it difficult for the bao to maintain its shape. Pork, beef, or chicken is recommended.

Help students keep track of their baozi during steaming.

Pay attention to food allergies. Avoid using any ingredients which may cause an allergic reaction.

Get pre-approval for cooking Baozi in your school.

List of Materials

Instructions of making Baozi (in Mandarin): 鲜肉包子.
Instruction of making Baozi (in English): Pork & Cabbage Steamed Buns
Materials for Yeast Science Experiment: yeast, squeeze bottles, water balloons, tapes, white sugar, flour, salt, one bowl, measuring cups, and warm water.
Materials for making Baozi: flour, mince (pork/beef/chicken), water, rolling pins, tongs, bowls, a steamer/rice cooker, plastic wrap, aprons, and plates.

Other resources:

How to make Baozi - Youtube resources
Shaping techniques for Baozi - Youtube resources
Mini rolling pins - Amazon

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Arizona Science Standards

5.P1U1.2

Plan and carry out investigations to demonstrate that some substances combine to form new substances with different properties and others can be mixed without taking on new properties.

Arizona ELA Standards

5.RL.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes.

5.RL.7 Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the purpose, meaning, or tone of the text (e.g., graphic novel, multimedia presentation of fiction, folktale, myth, and poem).

Arizona World Language Standards

Interpersonal Communication (IC)	Intermediate-low 1. Participate in conversations on familiar topics by using simple sentences.	Intermediate-low 2. Carry out short social interactions in everyday situations by asking and answering simple questions.
Interpretive Listening (IL)	Intermediate-low 1. Understand the main idea in short, simple messages, presentations, and overheard conversations on familiar topics.
Interpretive Reading (IR)	Intermediate-low 1. Understand the main idea of short and simple texts when the topic is familiar.
Presentational Speaking (PS)	Intermediate-low 1. Present information on familiar topics by using a series of simple sentences.
Presentational Writing (PW)	Intermediate-low 1. Write and share short messages about familiar topics using a series of simple sentences.

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Objectives:

Students will be able to master the following vocabularies:

包子 (bāo zi) steamed stuffed bun 陷 (xiàn) mince 酵母 (jiào mǔ) yeast 发酵 (fā jiào) ferment/fermentation 蒸 (zhēng) to steam

Students will be able to apply the following sentence structures in speaking and writing:
首先……，接着……，然后……，最后…… First……, then……, and then……, last……

Students will learn how to make baozi and understand the historical and cultural context of baozi.

Students will learn what yeast is and understand how it works.

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Agenda (3 hours)

Day 1 (1 hour)	Day 2 (2 hours)
Warm up: What is yeast and what is it used for? Ask students to do “think-pair-share”. Then ask students to share with the whole group. Definition: Yeast is a living microorganism classified as members of the fungus kingdom. Have a close look at yeast: Yeast under the Microscope Exploration: How does yeast work? Have an hands-on activity - the yeast experiment. Explanation: How does yeast work? Evaluation: Complete the yeast science worksheet and use your own words to explain how yeast works.	Preparation before Class: Get the flour dough to ferment, which takes about two hours. See instructions here. Introduce the traditional Chinese food “baozi” to students. Hands-on activity: Making Baozi Cook the baozi and enjoy. (It takes 15 minutes each time for steaming)

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

The Investigation of Yeast

Students can work in small groups of 3-4 students.

Procedure：

Step 1: Set up three squeeze bottles.

Step 2: In the first bottle, mix 1 cup of warm water, 1 packet of yeast, and 2 tablespoons of white sugar; In the second bottle, mix 1 cup of warm water, 1 packet of yeast, and 2 tablespoons of salt; In the 3rd bottle, mix 1 cup of warm water, 1 packet of yeast, and 2 cups of flour.

Step 3: Place the balloon over the lip of the bottle and use tape to seal each.

Step 4: Ask students to write down their predictions about what will happen to each of the balloon.

Step 5: Observe and record the data.

Step 6: Explain why this happens.

Materials you may need:

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Yeast Investigation examples

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Yeast Investigation Chart

Mark number with each bottle		Does the balloon rise or not?
Bottle	Condition	My Prediction	Result
#1	with sugar
#2	with salt
#3	with flour
Have a discussion with your group: What is the possible reason according to the data?
After watching the explanation video, use your own words to explain how yeast works.

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The Culture of Baozi

Baozi is a traditional Chinese food that is popular among people of all ages. Nutritious and healthy, it is a common and beloved item in the daily lives of many families.

In the Jinchang region, baozi is typically made from fermented flour dough. The size of the baozi varies according to the size of the filling. The smallest ones are called xiaolongbao, followed by medium and large baozi. Common fillings include pork, lamb, beef, vermicelli, shiitake mushrooms, red bean paste, celery, chives, tofu, wood ear mushrooms, dried vegetables with meat, salted egg yolk, sesame, and more. Notable regional varieties include Tianjin’s Goubuli Baozi, Kaifeng’s Xiaolongbao, Kaifeng’s Soup-filled Baozi, Ningxia’s Carrot Baozi, Shangqiu’s Beef Water-fried Baozi, and Guangdong’s Char Siu Bao.

Legend has it that during the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang created the baozi when he captured Meng Huo to stabilize the southwest. While crossing the Lu River, his soldiers fell ill from the plague. Local customs required human heads as sacrifices to appease the gods. Zhuge Liang ordered his men to use finely chopped beef and horse meat as filling, wrap it in dough, and shape it into human head-like forms, complete with facial features. These were called "mantou" and used as substitutes for human heads in the rituals. The soldiers loved these "mantou," and they became popular across the country, eventually evolving into the name "mantou" for the non-filled variety.

By the Qing dynasty, the term "baozi" began to specifically refer to the filled versions of these dough delicacies in many northern regions, while the non-filled versions continued to be called "mantou." In the Jiangnan and Shanghai areas, even today, "mantou" refers to filled buns, such as the "Nanxiang Shengjian Mantou," which are actually "shengjian baozi" (pan-fried buns).

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包子的文化

包子是中国传统的食品，老少皆宜，营养健康，是所有百姓家庭生活中非常普遍且备受喜爱的食品。

在金昌地区，普通百姓家包子一般是用面粉发酵做成的，大小依据馅心的大小有所不同，最小的可以称作小笼包，其他依次为中包、大包。常用馅心为猪肉、羊肉、牛肉、粉条、香菇、豆沙、芹菜、韭菜、豆腐、木耳、干菜肉、蛋黄、芝麻等。在中国特色地方美食中，比较有地方特色的有天津的狗不理包子、开封的小笼包、开封灌汤包、宁夏的胡萝卜包、商丘牛肉水煎包、广东叉烧包等等。

据传，三国时诸葛亮七擒孟获安定大西南时，大军渡过泸水时，士兵遇瘴气多病倒，在南夷地方习俗需要人头祭品上供，祈求神灵护佑，诸葛亮便命人用牛马肉剁细后做成馅，外面裹上面，塑成假人头形，五官皆具，称“蛮头”，代替人头当作祭品。诸葛亮发明的“蛮头”受到士兵的喜爱，从此流传到全国，名称也由原来的“蛮头”变为后来的馒头。

到清代以后，“包子”名称开始被特之，北方许多地区把有馅的那种地方特色面食，叫做“包子”，而没馅的，反倒叫做“馒头”。不过在江南、上海一带，一直到今天，仍然把包子叫做“馒头”，比如“南翔生煎馒头”，其实就是“生煎包子”。

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Making Baozi

Students work individually.

Procedure：

Step 1: Cut the pre-prepared dough at similar sizes and hand out 5 to each student.

Step 2: Ask students to to choose their preferred mince (pork, beef, or chicken) and mix it with sugar, salt, and soy sauce.

Step 3: Use a rolling pin to flatten each small dough piece and use it to wrap the mince. Shaping techniques for Bao - Youtube resources

Step 4: Steam the buns for 15 minutes and then enjoy.

A video example: How to make Baozi - Youtube resources

Materials you may need:

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Activity Pictures

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Assessment

The Yeast Investigation Chart

2. Students’ engagement and their products of Baozi.

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Differentiation

Use different formats to demonstrate the steps of making baozi.

Provide one-on-one teaching if a child struggles with how to wrap the baozi.

Provide different meat, minced, to meet individual needs.

Extension/Enrichment

Suggest students use yeast to make bread or cakes at home. Have students show and tell their observations and their creations.