How much energy is in a Cheeseball?

 

Subject Area

 Food energy, calories
Age or Grade

 8th grade
Estimated Length

 50-80 minute class period
Prerequisite knowledge/skills

 None. This activity introduces students to the unit used to measure heat energy in food (calories).
Description of New Content

1. The unit used to measure heat energy is the calorie.

2. Humans and other living organisms eat food to get energy.

Goals

 Students will measure the amount of energy in a snack item (cheeseball). Students will understand the link between eating food and gaining energy necessary for life.
Materials Needed

Handout/Instructions

For each group:

aluminum foil square (4in x 4in)

plastic vial

stand

binder clip

cardboard square for platform (approx 3in x 3 in)

paper clip (small)

cheeseballs

matches

worksheets (see link above)

goggles

thermometers

Procedure

 

 

 

Opener Ask students how people get the energy they need to live. How is this different than plants (plants make their own food using photosymthesis)?
Procedure: 1. Allow students to assemble their group set-up, following provided instrtuctions. 2. Students should record the initial water temperature. 3. Once all students in a group have goggles on, distribute matches and instruct students to light the cheeseball. 4. Students should record the maximum water temperature. 5. Using the worksheet, students should calculate the temperature change.
Closure Review the definition of calorie. Why did the water temperature change? How does this relate to humans eating?

Evaluation

 Confirm student worksheets are complete.
Extensions

 Compare the energy in multiple types of food items. Have students predict which they think will contain the most and least energy.
References FOSS Planetary Science Course, © The
Regents of the University of California