AFNR food science

What is food science?
We are bombarded by new foods every time we go into a grocery store or watch television. Where are all of these foods coming from? Food science is the answer. This AFNR unit introduces several aspects of food science. Students investigate the issue of food safety, the chemistry, biology and physics involved in making some foods, and create a package design to market a new food product. See teacher background →

Lessons

# Is our food safe?

Students watch videos and read an article excerpt to think about food safety as a national and global issue. Restaurants are evaluated by food inspectors. Students read about safety violations and watch videos to determine the consequences of food safety violations.

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# Rate your snack

Snack foods are available everywhere. What makes a snack healthy? Students evaluate a snack food.

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# What are the careers in food science?

Students investigate one of twelve different careers in food science.

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# Food Biology

Students observe different types of bread after one week to determine what factors affect food spoilage and mold growth, then make root beer, using living organisms to help make a food product.

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# Food Chemistry

Students make ice cream and investigate thermodynamics and physical changes while making ice cream.

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# Food Product Development and Marketing

Students use package design to attract a target audience to a creative product.

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Teacher background

Although farmers have continued to raise the same animals and crops for food for decades, we are seeing new foods at the grocery store each week. Food is big business and more and more products are released to meet the demands of gluten-free, organic, vegetarian and other diets, from fishless fillets (really, no fish) to nacho cheese flavored taco shells, food scientists are at work! It takes chemists, biologists, physicists, inspectors, and more to create these products, package and market them.

Read more

Next gen science standards

Science and engineering practices

  • Planning and carrying out investigations
  • Analyzing and interpreting data
  • Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

Crosscutting concepts

  • Cause and effect

Disciplinary core ideas/content

  • LS1B Growth and development of organisms
  • PS1B Chemical reactions
  • PS2B Types of interactions
  • ETS2B Influence of engineering, technology and science on society and the natural world

Curriculum authors



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