Crunch and Munch Lab

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In this activity, learners use three types of cheesy snacks--cheese balls, cheese puffs, and Cheetos--to learn about polymers. This activity introduces learners to basic concepts and vocabulary of polymer science, such as monomers, initiators, and free radicals.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
10 to 30 minutes
Learning Time:
30 to 45 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
$5 - $10 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 14 - adult
Resource Types:
Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity, Model
Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)

  • Cheese balls
  • Cheese puffs
  • Cheetos
  • 30 half toothpicks

Keywords

Subjects

  • Engineering and Technology
    • Engineering
      • Chemical Engineering
      • Metallurgy and Materials Engineering
  • Physical Sciences
    • Chemistry
      • Chemical Bonding
      • Chemical Reactions
    • States of Matter
      • Solids
    • Structure and Properties of Matter
      • Atomic Structure

Informal Categories

  • Food and Cooking
  • Model Building

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Funding Sources:

  • National Science Foundation Education and Human Resource Directorate, ESI 92-53386
  • National Science Foundation Center for Advanced Cement Based Materials
  • Dow Chemical Foundation
  • Materials Research Society
  • Iron and Steel Society
  • Peoria Chapter of the American Society for Metals