Food Activities
Food is a great way to connect relevance of STEM content to our lives. Activities explore the science of cooking and preparing food, some of the societal choices about how we grow and process food. Activities can be incorporated into events that involve cooking an eating, food festivals, and annual celebrations like Halloween and Valentine's Day.
More resources:
- HowToSmile collection of cooking activities
Building with Biology: Bio Bistro
In this activity, learners decide what current and future synthetic biology-based food products they would, would not, or might eat.
Exploring Fabrication - Gummy Capsules
In this activity, learners make self-assembled polymer spheres.
Sweet Self-Assembly
In this activity, learners make edible macrocapsules using techniques similar to those being used in laboratories to make nanocapsules or "smart drugs".
Molecular Gastronomy
In this O Wow Moments video, Mr. O looks at the fusion of science and cooking by making a special ice cream topping.
What’s Nano About Chocolate?
In this 30-second video, viewers quickly learn about nanosized particles and the sense of smell.
Gum and Chocolate
In this activity, learners practice observation and prediction skills as they experience an interesting chemical reaction in their mouths by chewing chocolate and gum at the same time.
Exploring Products - Nano Food
In this activity, learners explore how nanotechnology may be used in food products.
Nano Ice Cream
In this public presentation, a presenter will demonstrate how liquid nitrogen cools a creamy mixture at such a rapid rate that it precipitates super fine grained (nano) ice cream.
Online Workshop Recording: Nano Brown-Bag: Nano in Food
Online professional development workshop recording (2013).
Exploring Size - Smelly Balloons
In this activity learners use their sense of smell to explore the world on the nanoscale and learn that we can smell some things that are too small to see,
Kitchen Chemistry
In this stage presentation, learners discover the complex chemistry behind a seemingly simple bowl of spaghetti, and recognize the recognize the science that we practice every day in our very own home.
Would You Buy That
In this stage presentation, learners explores social and ethical issues of consumer products from the past, present and future
Buy It, Or Better Not?
In this activity, learners consider the costs, risks, and benefits of nanoparticles in various products.
Nano Museum Labels (Graphic Signs)
These museum graphic labels highlight everyday connections to nanoscale science including: chocolate, food packaging, water, a window, paint, a toilet, a soap bubble, fashion, a sock, a pencil, a butterfly, a gecko, a laptop, an elevator, and a local city.