Food and Agriculture Center for Science Education — Home

Curriculum Materials

11 Results

Full Unit

Postgame Analysis

NGSS Design Badge Hex postgame2

In this high school 5E unit, students investigate how milk helps athletes recover from intense exercise. Students begin by observing a series of professional athletes undergoing intense exercise and drinking milk after their exercise sessions. Across a series of four modules, students figure out how exercise impacts the body and how milk helps with recovery. Students explore body temperature and water balance, heart and breathing rate increases, and muscle fatigue. To conclude the unit, students explore muscle recovery.

Phenomena Bank

Butter From Cream

Hex big butter

This phenomenon explores how butter is made from cream.

Phenomena Bank

Lactic Acid Bacteria

Hex large lactic acid

This phenomenon explores why some individuals sensitive to lactose eat some fermented dairy foods without any issues.

Phenomena Bank

Spicy Peppers and Milk

Hex large pepper

This phenomenon explores why milk provides relief after eating spicy peppers.

Phenomena Bank

Milk As Recovery Drink

Hex big milk

This phenomenon explores why swimmers who added chocolate milk to their regular post-training routine swam faster than swimmers who used carbohydrate sports drinks or calorie-free beverages.

Phenomena Bank

Lactase Persistence

Hex big lactase

This phenomenon explores the frequencies of lactase persistence worldwide. It offers an opportunity for students to see the changing nature of science.

Task Library

More Cheese, Please – Middle School

Poly cheese bacteria

In this middle school task, students use models and data to explain why lactose intolerant people experience lots of gas, bloating and diarrhea when they eat certain dairy products. 

Task Library

More Cheese, Please – High School

Big poly more cheese

In this high school task, students use models and data to explain why lactose intolerant people experience lots of gas, bloating and diarrhea when they eat certain dairy products. 

Task Library

Food Fermentation

Yogurt

In this task, students will develop an explanation for how one organism’s population growth in an ecosystem may cause the population growth of other organisms in the same ecosystem to decrease.

Task Library

Are All Bacteria Harmful?

Hex yogurt

In this high school task, students explore the food ecosystems of two samples of yogurt with different bacteria to figure out which types are harmful and then explore the environmental conditions that allow harmful and less harmful bacteria to thrive. 

Other Resource

Curds Lab Activity

Brie

How does milk become cheese? This lab activity shows students the science behind milk curds. Students will wonder why the milk changes once acidic lemon juice is added and explore science through the lens of their food!