Genetically Modified Foods, known as GMO’s, are foods that have had their genes altered through science or genetic engineering, which is monitored through the EPA, the FDA and the USDA. Did you know that many of the foods found in our grocery stores contain at least one ingredient that has been genetically modified? Should we be informed as consumers when this process is affecting the foods we eat? Should genetically modified foods be labeled? There is a huge debate surrounding this dispute. How do your students weigh in on this topic?
Tag: Interdisciplinary
Cookie Genetics: An Edible Review
When I begin my unit on birth defects and prenatal care, I like to review the basics of genetics especially when we talk about inherited diseases. A fun and tasty way to do this is to have students participate in the cookie genetics edible review activity. Not only do students review and apply their Punnett Square knowledge, but they have fun making and eating their creation!
Recipes Around The World
This lesson plan is a great way to have the students connect and relate to one another. Each student will find and bring in a favorite family recipe, or favorite recipe. The students will fill out a worksheet with questions and present them to the class. It incorporates culture, family, history, geography, self-esteem, and food.
Learn to Cook While Learning French: The Kitchen of the Future
Tourism Lessons
This lesson forces students to think about the travel & tourism industry as a whole, historically. There are two projects that have students plan a vacation for a specific amount of money. There is also a mini assignment that has students create a timeline of how the travel/tourism industry changed over time in America. Finally, there is an mini-paper assignment about the future of tourism/travel.
Subway Economics
This lesson follows a case study of a busy couple that is challenged by one of their coworker’s to figure out whether it is cheaper to make sandwiches or buy them from Subway. Students get a chance to apply their critical thinking & problem solving skills to a practical problem as well as get a chance to learn basic math in Excel.
Basic Budgeting
Teach your students how to budget using the simple method of envelope budgeting. This interactive lesson is great for graduating seniors who need basic money management skills before they take off on their own. Budgeting doesn’t have to be so scary.
Fast Food Fanatic Project
There has been a lot of hype and a nation wide stirring about Fast Food over the past couple years thanks to movies like Super Size Me and Food, Inc.
Most recently Fast Food hit the news again as a photographer startled the world with pictures of “the indestructible happy meal” that looked exactly the same for over six months that it was on her shelf the only difference being that it was hard as a rock. So I ask my students to do a similar experiment decomposing fast food in my classroom window, make their own predictions, take pictures, and finally draw their own conclusions.
July’s Innovative FACS Teacher of the Month: Rachel Baxter
This month’s Innovative Family Consumer Science Teacher is Rachel Baxter, a high school FACS teacher in Mobile, Alabama. She’s taught FACS for five years now as her second career. She was inspired to become a FACS teacher by her sister…
Food Science Links
Website Yeast Experiments Lesson Plans Bacteria’s Role in Food : This lesson allows students to experiment with bacteria’s role in food. The students make their own yogurt and an oriental dish to explore the role microorganisms played in the taste…