Driving Question
(Teacher Guided, Student Constructed)
How can we develop, market, and brand an energy bar that is healthy, made from easy-to-find ingredients, and simple to prepare?
Public Products
Develop, market, and brand a healthy energy bar and packaging to be sold to a target audience.
Connections
Foundations
Milestones
Milestone 1 (Days 1–2): Entry Event
Situation
There is an increasing demand from American consumers for healthy snack options. Students will develop, market, and brand an energy bar that is healthy, made from easy-to-find ingredients, and simple to prepare.
Key Student Questions
- What are healthy snack guidelines?
- Which energy bar recipes align with healthy snack guidelines?
Formative Assessments
- World’s Unhealthiest Energy or Granola Bar Recipe and Presentation
- Healthy Energy Bar Recipe
Materials
- ingredients such as honey, brown sugar, peanut butter, cereals, dried fruits, oats, nuts, etc.
- kitchen tools such as bowls, spoons, pots, measuring cups and spoons, rags, towels, etc.
- wax or parchment paper
- 9″x 9″ foil container, 1 per team
- stove top or hot plate
- freezer
- Pinterest Board with Energy/Granola Bar Recipes
- Basic Granola Bar Recipe
- USDA Standards for School Snacks Article
Day 1 Instructional Procedures
- Begin by comparing the nutritional value of snacks that are considered “healthy” with snacks that are considered “unhealthy.” Discuss what makes a snack healthy.
- Divide the class into teams of 4–6 students. Allow about five minutes for each team to come up with a recipe and name for the “World’s Unhealthiest Energy or Granola Bar.” Have each group give a quick presentation about their bar and why they believe it is the “World’s Unhealthiest.”
- Explain that there is an increasing demand from American consumers for healthy snack options. Students will be developing, marketing, and branding an energy bar that is healthy, made from easy-to-find ingredients, and simple to prepare.
- Guide students to construct a question similar to, “How can we develop, market, and brand an energy bar that is healthy, made from easy-to-find ingredients, and simple to prepare?”
- Lead a discussion and create a class list of guidelines for what makes an energy bar “healthy.” Refer to the USDA Standards for School Snacks Article.
- Based on the guidelines, allow teams time to search the Pinterest Board with Energy/Granola Bar Recipes for recipes they would like to follow or slightly alter for their own energy bar business. Teams should consider recipes that use commonly found ingredients, are fast to make, and do not require specific equipment or food preparation skills. Each team is responsible for the product’s name.
Day 2 Instructional Procedures
- Provide each team with kitchen tools (bowl, mixing spoon) and the Basic Granola Bar Recipe. While students measure and mix the dry ingredients, warm the peanut butter, honey, and brown sugar “wet” mixture on the stove top or hot plate. Once the “wet” ingredients are homogeneous, scoop them into the “dry” bowls for each team. Stir until combined.
- Pour the mixture into a disposable 9″x 9″ foil container. Press firmly with wax or parchment paper. Label the paper and place it on top of the foil container. Stack the foil containers in the freezer for at least 30 minutes or until the next class period.
- Have the students clean up.
- While the energy bars are setting in the freezer and after cleaning up, allow time for teams to modify the existing recipe and create their own original recipe based on their Day 1 research and the recipe they just followed. Students should choose cereals, dried fruits, nuts, or any additional items. (Teachers may limit choices to items in the room or allow students to bring ingredients from home.)
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