Food science a big hit at primary school

Eight STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine) Ambassadors from Reepham High School delivered a full day of food science to pupils at Reepham Primary School on Monday 26 March as a warm-up for the Reepham Food Festival on 27 May 27.
 

 
The day, which involved 180 children from all the primary classes from Year 1 to Year 6, was organised by Dr George Forster of Reepham-based Boost Education through Reepham & District Rotary Club, assisted by John Pickering and Manesty Forster.
 
The STEMM Ambassadors were: Emma Bird, Jack Jarvis, Nessie Everett, Eve Reading, Isobel Whiting, Izzy Frary, Hayden Wright and Anna den Engelse. They are part of the Youth STEM Awards and have been training as STEMM Ambassadors through an initiative of the Institute of Physics.
 
Overseen by college student Erin Brady and teachers Sarah Townend, Nick Hull and Kirsty Turner, the STEMM Ambassadors demonstrated five different activities to the pupils: speed of light in a microwave, raw or cooked taste test, bubbles in food, food under the microscope and the ever-popular bash the custard.
 
Dr Forster said: “It’s a great example of community co-operation, both schools and the Rotary Club using local expertise to enthuse youngsters about these important subjects. Food and science, what more could you ask?”
 
Quotes from Year 3 and Year 5 primary school children:

  • Theo: I enjoyed my science experience because I don’t often learn about food. Every experiment I did, I learned something new.
  • Jedd: I never knew how many bubbles there were in bread.
  • Freya: I discovered you could eat smoked salmon even though it was raw.
  • (A different) Freya: I really enjoyed that the high school students were really enthusiastic about what they were doing. I loved how passionate they were about science.
  • Theo: Thanks for giving up your time so we could have fun and lean lots
  • Dannii: When I bashed the custard, I never guessed that would happen. It felt like a rock.
  • Rohan: I learnt that when you put your finger in the custard gently, the particles separated so your finger went in, but it felt like the custard was grabbing it. When you punched it hard, there was not time for the particles to separate, so it was like a wall.
  • Luke: It was interesting to taste the salmon because I’ve never tasted it before.
  • Yasmin: The raw potato tasted disgusting. The cooked was delicious.

 

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