Learning about nutrition? Need to link food science to the material world?

From ice cream to French fries, sugar to hot dogs, the food we eat every day can be a fascinating topic. The best bit is that you can incorporate science inquiry into everyday activities and as such there are plenty of project ideas you can use to help bring food science into the classroom! So with this in mind, here’s a list of ideas that you can give your students.

Downloadable PDF version for students

Food Science Ideas for Students

1. Watch a TED talk on the future of food
2. Investigate dissolving sugars and concentration gradients using skittles
3. Research how plant proteins are being used to grow vegan meat.
4. Look at osmosis using gummy bears
5. Create honeycomb and learn about the effect of heat on bicarbonate soda
6. Make colour changing red cabbage juice pH indicator and test kitchen ingredients
7. Learn why apples go brown when cut
8. Research the uses of molecular gastronomy in modern kitchens
9. Find out how people have used selection processes over thousands of years to change crop yields
10. Hold a debate on the use of preservatives in food
11. Investigate how cells in potatoes respond to saline vs freshwater
12. Make your own ice cream and learn about crystal formation over time
13. Present a student talk about the digestion process
14. Create a podcast and interview students on their thoughts on food
15. Compare the density & sugar content of different soda drinks
16. Teach a younger student a cooking skill
17. Extract DNA from fruit
18. Build a website with food science recipes using WordPress, Wix or Squarespace
19. Find out the best temperature for yeast to grow
20. Film a student making a procedural video on cooking
21. Make cartoon about food science using Toony Tool
22. Create a 3D model of a carbohydrate or protein and print it
23. Mix up some edible slime
24. Grow salt crystals
25. ‘Organic’ food, what does that mean for food labels in your country?
26. Make sherbet
27. Test foods for glucose and starch
28. Create a clay motion video on molecular gastronomy
29. Cook Baked Alaska and learn about heat conduction through different ingredients
30. Just what is a fruit or vegetable? You’d be surprised what people think!
31. Find out about the distance your food has travelled to your school.
32. Caramelize sugar in lemon juice as you create greeting cards
33. Plant an edible garden
34. Make a science song about digestion
35. Create a YouTube channel about food science
36. Write a poem about food chemistry
37. Investigate the effect of detergent on animals fats using milk
38. Create a science cookery book
39. Investigate different careers in food science
40. Write a book with complied ideas from students on their favourite recipes
41. Link with another school for a shared food science project
42. Grow rock candy sugar crystals
43. Weird food molecules; investigate stereoisomers in kitchen
44. Skype a food scientist
45. Create a new menu for the school canteen
46. Learn from a local chef about how they prepare ingredients
47. Write a blog article on food science
48. Make a science poster on food
49. Design a pizza box solar oven
50. Learn about electrolytes in fruit by making batteries

Downloadable PDF version for students

Some thoughts for students to consider

These ideas and investigations are just a starting point!

• Is there any current research happening now that you’d like to learn more about?

• What has been happening in your school?

• What has been happening beyond your school?

• What has made you say “Wow?” recently?

• Don’t be afraid to ask for materials & support!

Going further

Have a food science workshop or show visit your school!

Happy teaching

Ben Newsome CF