Why does bread rise? Yeast helps bread dough rise. The yeast in the dough is alive.

Children need a grown-up when they bake. Dry yeast needs warm water to wake up.

Sugar is food for yeast. It eats the sugar. It gives off a gas.

Kneading means pushing, pulling and stretching the dough. It makes the gluten in dough stretchy. It works like a net that traps the gas.

Bread dough is set in a warm place to rise. It rises until it doubles in size. It is covered, often with a clean, damp towel.

Proofing is a rest time when yeast makes gas. Punching down dough means pushing out some of the air. You use your fist.

Yeast dies when it gets too hot. Later, the oven's heat kills it.

Bread is done baking when it turns golden brown. Baked loaves cool on a wire rack. That way the bottom does not get soggy.

Words to know

• yeast: a living thing
• gluten: dough net
• kneading: push and stretch
• proofing: rest time