Dish out small bowls of flour, sugar and cocoa powder. Set up silicone cupcake moulds in the centre of the table. Set up enough mixing bowls, forks, spoons and measuring spoons for each group.
"Pair up! Find a friend who wants to make the same kind of cupcake as you and stand in front of a mixing bowl."
Ask each child to select a silicone cupcake mould and to put their initials on the bottom of the mould.
"Each group, put four tablespoons of flour into your mixing bowl." (get parent helpers, if you have any, to make sure these are level tablespoons, not heaped)
"Hands up who is making vanilla cupcakes? Put one more tablespoon of flour in your bowl!"
"Hands up who is making chocolate cupcakes? Put one tablespoon of cocoa powder in your bowl!"
"Every group, put three tablespoons of sugar into your bowl!"
"Each group, put a pinch of salt in your bowl, just a pinch!"
"Every group, put one tablespoon of sunflower oil into your bowl" They might need help with this, especially the younger ones.
"Every group, put one tablespoon of milk into your bowl!"
"Hands up who is making vanilla cupcakes? Put one half of a teaspoonful of vanilla into your bowl!"
"Can every group grab an egg? Be careful not to drop it!"
"Crack your egg into your bowl!" Parent helpers might have to help with this as well as fishing out egg shell from the bowls.
"Are you all ready everyone? Grab your forks and stir, stir, stir!!" While the children are stirring, keep an eye on the texture of their mixtures. It should be of soft dropping consistency, so add a little bit more milk or flour, depending on what is needed.
"Alright everybody, this is looking great! Now, spoon your cupcake batter into your cupcake cases." There is enough batter to make two large cupcakes, but you might find you need a third case, depending on how much batter they've made, or just throw out the extra.
Bake in a preheated 190 C oven for 15-20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely while the children are decorating pre-made cupcakes in another room. Move the cooled cupcakes to the party bag table for when everyone leaves.