In order for students to develop a lifetime love of learning, it is essential to capture their attention at a young age. One method for drawing students into science is through the use of food. Read on to discover how you can engage your child’s mind through their stomach.
Layers of the Earth
Make a batch of Rice Krispie treats with your child. Have them take a small amount of the mixture and roll it into a ball. This will represent the Earth’s inner core. Next, divide the remaining treats into three separate bowls. Add orange food coloring to the first bowl, red to the second, and blue to the third. When the rice krispies are properly colored, wrap the orange treats around the inner core to form the outer core. Follow that with the red treats, which represents the Earth’s mantle. Finish the Earth model with its most recognizable layer, a blue crust.
Jell-O Cell Model
Begin by following the Jell-O packet instructions to make the wiggly treat and then pour it into a round mold. The mold is acting as the cell’s membrane. Have your child add a plum to the center of the mold to represent the cell’s nucleus. Then begin by building the cell. Use gumdrops for centrosomes, Skittles as lysosomes, raisins as mitochondria, peanut M&Ms as vacuoles, sprinkles as ribosomes, and thin strips of licorice as the golgi bodies. Refrigerate until the Jell-O sets. Review the finished cell and enjoy.
Bubbling Lemonade
Show your child how exciting chemical reactions can be through a bubbling lemonade that you can actually drink! Cut a lemon up into slices and have your child squeeze the juice out of each one into a glass. Next, have them add 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda to the lemon juice and watch what happens. The mixture will react by bubbling up! Once the fizz has died down, toss in a teaspoon of sugar for sweetness and drink up.
Sun Cooked S’mores
Teach your kids about the power of solar energy by cooking up a classic campfire treat using the sun instead of the traditional campfire. Start by simply lining the bottom of a cardboard box with tin foil. Assemble the S’mores by placing a graham cracker on the bottom, a piece of chocolate on top of the graham cracker, and a marshmallow on top of the chocolate. Cover the box with plastic wrap to keep any unwanted visitors out of the treats. Set the box out in the sun for an hour or two. When you come back, you’ll notice that the sun has melted the chocolate and softened up the marshmallow. Top with another graham cracker and enjoy!
For more tips on how you can get your kids interested in science, check out our Orlando private school blog.
