Make a safe warm drink with adult supervision: measure ingredients, steep tea or mix hot chocolate, stir, taste responsibly, and serve a cuppa.



Step-by-step guide to Make a Cuppa
Step 1
Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
Step 2
Put your mug spoon measuring spoon and your tea bag or hot chocolate powder on a clean counter.
Step 3
Decide whether you want to make tea or hot chocolate.
Step 4
Put the tea bag into the mug or scoop two measuring spoons of hot chocolate powder into the mug.
Step 5
Ask an adult to fill the kettle or saucepan and boil the water for you.
Step 6
Have the adult carefully pour the boiling water into your mug until it is about three quarters full.
Step 7
If you made tea let the tea steep in the hot water for 3 to 5 minutes.
Step 8
If you made hot chocolate stir the mug with the spoon for about 30 seconds until the powder is dissolved.
Step 9
Ask an adult to check the temperature of your drink to make sure it is safe to taste.
Step 10
If the adult says it is cool enough add a splash of milk or a little sugar if you want.
Step 11
Stir the drink one time with the spoon to mix any milk or sugar.
Step 12
Take a very small sip to taste the drink and make sure it is not too hot.
Step 13
Serve your cuppa on a tray to yourself or someone else carefully.
Step 14
Share a photo or description of your finished cuppa on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!


Help!?
What can I use if I don't have a measuring spoon or a tea bag?
Use two level regular teaspoons in place of the two measuring spoons for step 4, and replace a tea bag with a tea infuser and one teaspoon of loose tea or with two tablespoons of cocoa powder if you lack hot chocolate powder.
My hot chocolate keeps clumping or my tea tastes weak — how can I fix that?
If hot chocolate clumps during step 8, warm a little milk or water and whisk a teaspoon of powder into a paste before adding the rest and stirring for 30 seconds, and if tea tastes weak let it steep longer within the 3–5 minute range in step 6 or use a second tea bag.
How should I change the steps for younger or older kids?
For younger children have them focus on handwashing (step 1), choosing the mug and stirring while an adult handles boiling and pouring (steps 5–7), and for older kids let them measure (step 4), time the steep (step 6) and only ask an adult to check temperature (step 9).
How can we make the activity more creative or challenging?
Personalize the cuppa by decorating the tray and mug before serving (step 13), create a recipe card with steep times and milk/sugar choices to photograph for DIY.org (step 14), or compare different tea blends and steeping times to judge flavor.
Watch videos on how to Make a Cuppa
Facts about hot drink safety and preparation for kids
☕ Tea is the world's most consumed drink after water — billions of cups are enjoyed daily worldwide.
⚠️ Boiling water can cause serious burns — always have an adult heat or pour hot water.
⏱️ Different teas need different steeping times: black ~3–5 min, green ~2–3 min, herbal ~5–7 min for best flavor.
🥛 Adding a splash of milk cools a hot drink a little and makes it creamier — handy for safe sipping.
🍫 Hot chocolate was first drunk by the Maya and Aztecs as a frothy, spicy beverage, not the sweet cocoa we know today.


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