Duration: 1–2 sessions × 40–60 minutes
SPIRIT Skills:
- Problem-solving
- Connectedness
- Valuing people and nature
Brief Description:
Teams test lemon/sweetener/water ratios and record results, then solve problems by improving their recipe for taste, balance, and inclusivity
How does this develop particular SPIRIT skills
- Builds problem-solving by testing ratios, noticing results, and making a clear plan for what to change next
- Strengthens connectedness through shared roles and collaborative decision-making under real constraints
- Develops valuing people and nature by making mindful ingredient choices (balance, not excess) and reducing waste during testing.
What do we want to achieve regarding SPIRIT skill development (student understanding and/or behaviour)?
- Measure ingredients accurately for at least two test batches and record what they did.
- Identify one “recipe problem” (too sour/sweet/weak) and propose a reasonable change.
- Work as a team using roles (measurer, mixer, recorder, taster/communicator) and resolve disagreements respectfully.
Academic/Curriculum Objective connection
Practical measurement + inquiry cycle; cause-effect in ingredients and taste outcomes.
Materials and tools needed for implementation
Lemons, water, sweeteners, pitchers, measuring tools, data logs (optional pH strips).
Preparation notes
Limit trials: 2–3 maximum per session. Use a “one change at a time” rule to keep results understandable.
Guided Questions
- “What is the problem with this batch?”
- “What is one change we can try next?”
- “How do we decide fairly when people disagree?”
Stage Debriefing Questions (Optional)
- “Which change helped most, and how do you know?”
Tips and Tricks for dealing with stage challenges
- Challenge: Teams keep changing too many things.
Tip: Use a team “change ticket”: only one variable per trial. - Challenge: Strong personalities dominate decisions.
Tip: Use a quick vote + require one reason per person before deciding.