Grades 3–5 (Kit)
Bring food science to life with hands-on activities! This box is designed for homeschool, virtual learning, or classroom use and includes ready-to-use supplies for students to explore nutrition, food production, and science concepts. Each kit contains enough materials for one student to complete the included activities, making it easy to integrate into lessons or send home for independent learning.
Students will classify foods, explore nutrition with MyPlate, pop their own popcorn, investigate cultural food traditions, make cheese, and learn how food travels from farm to table. It’s an engaging way to connect science and agriculture through real-world experiences.
Kit Contents & Lesson Connections
- Food Models – Use in Activity 1 of the What's on My Plate? lesson plan. A full set of Food Models is available for download from the National Dairy Council.
- MyPlate Activity Poster – Pair with Food Model cards for a visual exploration of food groups.
- Popcorn on the Cob – Use as the interest approach in the Get Popping! lesson plan.
Want more popcorn fun? Purchase additional Popcorn on the Cob Kits. - Lunch Cards – Use with Activity 1 of the Cultures, Food, and Communities Around the World lesson plan.
Pair with the World Fabric Map for a global perspective. - Mozzarella Cheese Mini – Make cheese during Activity 1 of Cheesemaking: A Science, an Art, and a Craft.
Order the full Mozzarella Cheese Kit for a class set. - By Land, Air, or Sea Cards – Use in Activities 2 and 3 of the By Land, Air, or Sea lesson plan.
Lesson Plans
All activities in this box connect to lessons on the National Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix. Search using the keywords food science or cooking to find even more companion lessons and resources.
Extend the Learning
Encourage students to design a healthy meal, write a story about the journey of their popcorn from farm to bowl, or compare homemade mozzarella to store-bought cheese and discuss food processing.
