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. This is the high school version of the middle school Food Fermentation task. This task intends to elicit student learning of the following NGSS dimensions:

Disciplinary Core Ideas

• LS2.A: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems (HS)

Science and Engineering Practices

• Analyzing and Interpreting Data (HS)
• Engaging in Arguments from Evidence (HS)

Crosscutting Concepts

• Cause and Effect (HS)

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In this high school task, students are introduced to bioreactors, a new technology that helps farmers reduce nitrates in their agricultural drainage water. A farmer, Caroline, installs two bioreactor systems on her farm, one with and one without a gate in the outlet. Students help Caroline figure out which option she should recommend to other farmers by doing calculations with sensor data to compare the total number of nitrates exiting each bioreactor system. Next, they use this data to decide whether to recommend gates or no gates in bioreactor systems, drawing a model to help Caroline explain the recommendation, including how it will increase the sustainability of Caroline’s farming practices. This task intends to elicit student learning of the following NGSS dimensions:

Disciplinary Core Ideas

• ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems (HS)

Science and Engineering Practices

• Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking (HS)
• Developing and Using Models (HS)

Crosscutting Concepts

• Patterns (HS)

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This phenomenon explores how butter is made from cream. [permalink]

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! [permalink]

In this middle school task, students develop an explanation for how one organism’s (lactobacillus) population growth in an ecosystem may cause the population growth of other organisms in the same ecosystem to decrease. The ecosystem students explore is food. This task intends to elicit student learning of the following NGSS dimensions:

Disciplinary Core Ideas

• LS2.A: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems (MS)

Science and Engineering Practices

• Analyzing and Interpreting Data (MS)
• Engaging in Arguments from Evidence (MS)

Crosscutting Concepts

• Cause and Effect (MS)

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

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

This phenomenon explores how manure from cattle can be transformed into electrical power. [permalink]

Is the production of milk good or bad for the environment? Conflicting media claims tell opposing views, which can be difficult for students to understand. In this high school 5E unit on the dairy food system and sustainability, students explore media claims about the impacts of the dairy sector on the environment to figure out which ones most accurately represent the body of science on the dairy sector’s impacts. Across a series of four modules, students figure out how the components of the dairy food system impact the environment, including pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, climate, and biodiversity. To conclude the unit, students use engineering design processes to evaluate multiple solutions to reduce the dairy sector’s environmental impact. [permalink]

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. [permalink]

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. Here, students explore models of lactose-tolerant and lactose-intolerant people to see how the inputs, outputs, and processes of each person’s digestive systems affect how they function to process dairy products. They then develop their own comparative model to explain why only lactose intolerant people experience these painful symptoms. At the end of the task, students examine new data to recommend what types of dairy products lactose intolerant people might eat to cause less painful symptoms. This is the high school version of the middle school More Cheese, Please task. This task intends to elicit student learning of the following NGSS dimensions:

Disciplinary Core Ideas

• LS1.A: Structure & Function (HS)

Science and Engineering Practices

• Developing and Using Models (HS)
• Analyzing and Interpreting Data (HS)

Crosscutting Concepts

• Systems and Systems Models (HS)

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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. Here, students explore models of lactose-tolerant and lactose-intolerant people to see how the inputs, outputs, and processes of each person’s digestive systems affect how they function to process dairy products. They then develop their own comparative model to explain why only lactose intolerant people experience these painful symptoms. At the end of the task, students examine new data to recommend what types of dairy products lactose intolerant people might eat to cause less painful symptoms. This task intends to elicit student learning of the following NGSS dimensions:

Disciplinary Core Ideas

• LS1.A: Structure & Function (MS)

Science and Engineering Practices

• Developing and Using Models (MS)
• Analyzing and Interpreting Data (MS)

Crosscutting Concepts

• Systems and Systems Models (MS)

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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. [permalink]

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