In the 4-H Food Science Project, youth go beyond cooking and baking to understand how food works – why do baked goods rise, how does the food we eat power our body, what are nutrients, and what different components do to make food taste good, stay together, and create the things we love to eat.
Objectives
Youth will:
- Learn about secrets of baking through experiments with gluten, leavening agents, and ingredients in baked goods
- Investigate protein chemistry through experiments with eggs and cheese
- Explore the inner mysteries of fruits and vegetables
- Learn about food science and food technology careers
4-H Food Science Curriculum
Available in the Extension office or online.
What’s on Your Plate? Exploring Food Science is a comprehensive curriculum set with hands-on experiments—some of which learners can eat as they discover the science behind food preparation. Youth learn the building blocks of food science using chemistry, biology, and physics in a “kitchen laboratory” setting. Learn why and how things happen in breads, muffins, eggs, fruit, vegetables, cheese, candy, and beverages. Conduct food experiments, collect and analyze data, practice sensory science (tasting), and investigate career opportunities. Each unit contains three activities for beginner through advanced learners.
What’s On Your Plate? Exploring Food Science: Unit 1 – The Secrets of Baking
The Youth Science Journal leads learners through the experiments and provides them with use-at-home information. Unit 1 uncovers “The Secrets of Baking” with activities to understand the science of baked goods—gluten, leavening and proper mixing—and the best methods for making these foods. The Facilitator Guide (sold separately) provides tips and photos for successfully doing the activities. Short, online tutorial videos show exactly what you need to know and explain the science behind the experiments.
What’s On Your Plate? Exploring Food Science: Unit 2 – The Power of Protein Chemistry
The Youth Science Journal leads learners through the experiments and provides them with use-at-home information. Unit 2, “The Power of Protein Chemistry,” explores the many ways eggs are used in foods, and how milk turns into cheese. The Facilitator Guide (sold separately) provides tips and photos for successfully doing the activities. Short, online tutorial videos show exactly what you need to know and explain the science behind the experiments.
What’s On Your Plate? Exploring Food Science: Unit 3 – The Inner Mysteries of Fruits and Vegetables
The Youth Science Journal leads learners through the experiments and provides them with use-at-home information. Unit 3 dives into “The Inner Mysteries of Fruits and Vegetables.” Activities investigate how to prepare fruits and vegetables so they taste and look appealing in color and texture. The Facilitator Guide (sold separately) provides tips and photos for successfully doing the activities. Short, online tutorial videos show exactly what you need to know and explain the science behind the experiments.
What’s On Your Plate? Exploring Food Science: Unit 4 – Be a Food Scientist
The Youth Science Journal leads learners through the experiments and provides them with use-at-home information. Unit 4, “Be a Food Scientist,” lets learners look at a day in the life of a food scientist, as well as practice being one as they create a new beverage and learn a basic food science skill–crystallization. The Facilitator Guide (sold separately) provides tips and photos for successfully doing the activities. Short, online tutorial videos show exactly what you need to know and explain the science behind the experiments.
What’s On Your Plate? Exploring Food Science: Unit 1 – The Secrets of Baking – Facilitator Guide
This Facilitator Guide provides tips for success for teaching “The Secrets of Baking.” Step-by-step guide with instructions, pictures and explanations includes pages from the Youth Science Journals along with the answer key. Short online tutorial videos provide science explanations and demonstrations for doing the activities. Both the Facilitator Guide and Youth Science Journal are necessary for completing the activities.
What’s On Your Plate? Exploring Food Science: Unit 2 – The Power of Protein Chemistry – Facilitator
This Facilitator Guide provides tips for success for teaching “The Power of Protein Chemistry.” Step-by-step guide with instructions, pictures and explanations includes pages from the Youth Science Journals along with answer key. Short online tutorial videos provide science explanations and demonstrations for doing the activities. Both the Facilitator Guide and Youth Science Journal are necessary for completing the activities.
This Facilitator Guide provides tips for success for teaching “The Inner Mysteries of Fruits and Vegetables.” Step-by-step guide with instructions, pictures and explanations includes pages from the Youth Science Journals along with answer key. Short online tutorial videos provide science explanations and demonstrations for doing the activities. Both the Facilitator Guide and Youth Science Journal are necessary for completing the activities.
What’s On Your Plate? Exploring Food Science: Unit 4 – Be a Food Scientist! – Facilitator Guide
This Facilitator Guide provides tips for success for teaching “Be a Food Scientist.” Step-by-step guide with instructions, pictures and explanations includes pages from the Youth Science Journals along with answer key. Short online tutorial videos provide science explanations and demonstrations for doing the activities. Both the Facilitator Guide and Youth Science Journal are necessary for completing the activities.
Science Fun with Kitchen Chemistry
Join the Terrestrial Alien Defense Academy and figure out how to outsmart the aliens by doing experiments in your kitchen. Learn about what matter is and how it changes form; explore the different properties of matter; find out about acids and bases; and discover how everyday items and kitchen ingredients can be used in cool tests! Designed for beginners, but appropriate for all levels.
Washington 4-H Records, Forms, and Guides
For youth members
C1099E – 4-H Food Activity Worksheet
EM3443E – Dinner is Served: An Etiquette Guide
A publication with illustrations all about the etiquette for informal and formal dinners.
EM4733E – Food Activity Guidelines
Publication on: preparing dishes to wash, how to wash, rinse, and finish plus cleanup jobs after washing the dishes.
PNW250 – You Can Prevent Foodborne Illness
For adult helpers and club leaders
Helpful Resources
Activity Ideas
Includes the activities “My Food Journal,” “Windowsill Greenhouse Garden,” “Grow Your Own Microgreens,” “Make Your Own Cheese,” “Make Your Own Sourdough Pizza,” and “Make Your Own Butter.”
Science Fun with Dairy Foods: The Case of the Missing Milk
‘Your kitchen will become a laboratory as you observe and experiment with dairy products. As a member of the Dairy Police Task Force you will learn the science behind butter, cheese, and curds while solving the mystery of The Missing Milk.
Food Science Experiments for Kids
The kitchen holds a special place in the home and the heart. It’s where meals and memories are made, where families bond over food, and where lessons are passed down to the next generation. Kids can be taught about recipes, cooking techniques, nutrition, and more in the comfort of their home kitchen through food science experiments.
From chemical reactions to physical changes, the kitchen is a perfect laboratory for kids to explore science. Here’s why that education is so important, and how you can use food science experiments for kids to explore science with your children!
Safe Recipe Activity for Middle School Students – Partnership for Food Safety Education
Did you know there could be harmful germs in your food?
Germs are invisible, they’re everywhere, and some can make you very sick. Germs can be in your food, on your hands, or even on kitchen utensils, cutting boards and counter tops. Luckily, there are steps you can take when you’re preparing food that lower your risk of getting a foodborne illness.
One easy way to remember these steps is to use a safe recipe while preparing food. Safe recipes include food safety steps, like washing your hands, that lower the risk of getting sick from harmful germs.
The Safe Recipe Activity takes about 30 minutes to complete and will teach you how to use the Safe Recipe Style Guide to turn a basic recipe into a safe recipe.
Science Activities and Experiments – Education.com Learning Library
This site contains science activities for multiple fields, including hands-on activities, worksheets, and more. In the left panel, it can be sorted by physical science, life science, earth & space science, and engineering & science practices, as well as by topic, age group, and state education standards.
4-H Friday Fun! Ice Cream in a Bag – The University of Maine (Video)
4-H Friday Fun! is a series of at-home activities for parents and kids. In this video, join Sadee Mehuren, 4-H Youth Development Professional (Waldo County), as she makes homemade ice cream. The purpose of this activity is to: 1) demonstrate how substances change between different states of matter and 2) to introduce the concept of melting point. Produced by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H.
The PDF instructions are available through the University of Maine Cooperative Extension website.
4-H Friday Fun! Is there Seaweed in Your Cupboard? – The University of Maine (video)
4-H Friday Fun! is a series of at-home activities for parents and kids. In this video, join Sarah Sparks, 4-H Science Youth Development Professional to learn about seaweed and what food products in your kitchen cupboard or refrigerator might contain. Produced by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H.
The PDF handouts are available through the University of Maine Cooperative Extension website.
Washington Specific Reference Material
Coming soon!
Other Reference Material
From 4-H Programs
University of Tennessee 4-H Food Science Activity Page (PDF)
Who doesn’t love butter? In this activity, you will learn about where butter comes from and how to make your own butter! Requires a free Clover account to access lesson plans.
From Higher Education Institutions
From Related Organizations, Journals, and Professionals
Partnership for Food Safety Education
Test Your Food Safety Knowledge! – USDA
Teach children the importance of nutrition and physical activity using interactive websites and games.
Science and Our Food Supply – US Food and Drug Administration
Free supplementary curriculum for middle level and high school classrooms.
What captures the interest of students? FOOD! Yes, food can be used to engage students in inquiry-based science — really!
The Science and Our Food Supply Teacher Guides are challenging hands-on, minds-on activities that empower students to make informed choices about food safety, nutrition, biotechnology, and dietary supplements. They are crafted in a teacher-friendly modular format that easily fit into science, health, and other classes.
Science and our Food Supply: Food Safety Reference Guide – US Food and Drug Administration (PDF)
- Kits, Projects, and Activities from National 4-H
National 4-H Food Science and Safety Curriculum Collection
Inspire kids to sink their teeth into the rewards of healthful home cooking! This kit helps your aspiring cook learn their way around the kitchen, with real cooking tools designed especially for them. This set includes:
1x Silicon Spatula
1x Measuring Cup Set (Includes 6 Measuring Spoons)
1x Set of 2 Flex-it Cutting BoardsOur 4-H Magnetic Oven Mitt is essential for any kitchen. Protect your hands from hot surfaces with this highly heat-resistant, 100% cotton mitt featuring a strong magnet that attaches to any magnetic surface. Crafted with robust stitching and double-insulated layers, this mitt is designed for long-lasting durability and superior protection.
All good cooks need an apron when they are whisking around the kitchen! The 4-H Clover apron is made of 100% cotton. Measures 26″ w x 35″ h. Adjustable tie strap and one large front pocket.