Snacking Science

Posted Date: 10/03/2023

What if I told you a snack at school was more than just nourishment?

In Nikki Battenfield’s kindergarten class at Hettie Halstead Elementary School, a snack day early in the school year was more than something to keep her students focus.

It was their science lesson.

“The most rewarding part of this lesson was seeing how excited the students were to try new foods and food combinations,” Battenfield said. “The biggest challenge was prepping the snacks at the end of the day, to ensure freshness with no spilling or touching beforehand.”

This wasn’t just a lesson on taste or food, but on the five senses.

Battenfield’s students had the chance to taste the different flavor combinations and learn how the textures changed as they ate their snacks, which included Cheez-Its, Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, bananas and marshmallow fluf.

“Cheez-Its with Cinnamon Toast Crunch is the best thing I’ve ever had!” Nazliah Maingi said. “It’s salty and sweet!”

At first, some of Battenfield’s students struggled remembering all five senses, but by the end of the lesson, they were finding success.

Of the 22 students, one decided marshmallow wasn’t for them. Kazi Hamilton was among the 21 excited to try it.

“It looks like ice cream,” Hamilton said. “It’s soft and tastes sweet.”