The fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students of Sippican School are in the middle of a new kind of science experiment. The kids are ditching the safety goggles and beakers for some yeast, flour, and a rolling pin.

On Thursday, Amy Driscoll of the Vermont-based King Arthur Flour Company visited the school to instruct the eager students on baking the perfect loaf of bread.

“Think of it as a chemistry experiment. You’re putting very specific things together for very specific results. It’s also about math as we add fractions together,” Driscoll said.

Driscoll presented with the help of students Julia Winters and Nathaniel King. The event was the brainchild of Winters, who proposed the project to school officials after visiting the Vermont baking company last year.

Following the presentation, every student received a bag of flour, an apron, and measuring tools to bake two loaves of bread at home – one for their family and one to be donated to a local food pantry.

“I like the feeling of helping out and giving a loaf of bread to charity,” said Winters, a sixth grader.

Winters helped Driscoll roll and braid the dough into a twisted loaf of bread as well as cinnamon rolls. So what is the trick to cutting perfect cinnamon rolls? Dental floss. Just tie the floss around the dough as if you were tying your shoe laces and pull apart as fast as you can to slice the dough straight.

“Dental floss is an excellent cinnamon roll tool to help the dough keep its shape,” Driscoll said. “I just wouldn’t use mint flavored. Go for cinnamon flavored.”

Dr. Elise Frangos, the Assistant Superintendent and Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the Old Rochester Regional school district, commended Winters for helping to bring the presentation to the school.

“I’m really excited,” Frangos said. “The project combines math and science. It’s about applying it at home and giving back to the community.”

Driscoll agreed.

“Giving something that you made yourself to someone who really needs it is a wonderful thing,” Driscoll said.

Students from Old Rochester Regional Junior High School, Old Hammondtown School, and Rochester Memorial School will also get to show off their baking skills. Representatives from King Arthur Flour will visit each of the schools this week.

Fora related story on Julia Winters, click here.