I have conducted several taste tests this year. It's something that I enjoy giving my students. It can be a quick and inexpensive lab that can be done instead of something extremely in depth. It helps broaden their tastes and experiences. It is also very entertaining to see students' reactions (good and bad).
Curriculum Connections
- Science: Anatomy and taste buds (taste bud and tongue map - controversy over if this is real).
- English: Adjectives
Procedures & Expectations
It is extremely important to go over procedures and expectations before tasting can begin. This happens every time I have a Taste Test Lab.
- Students are expected to not taste/eat anything until I give them the word. This is important because they need to visually compare and describe everything together.
- A good pre-lesson would be for students to make a poster of describing words that work for foods. Students could use this poster to reflect on. It would also make a good chart for an interactive notebook.
- Students are to create a chart that categorizes the comparisons to be made (visual description/texture, smell, mouth feel/texture, taste.
- When students need to distinguish between items, it's best to repackage and give non-descriptive labels (A, B, C, 1, 2, & 3)
Taste Tests
Here is a list of Taste Test Labs we have done this year so far.
- Chocolate - Identifying flavors
- Chips - Identifying flavors
- Cheese It's - Identifying flavor and distinguishing between reduced fat, whole grain, and regular
- Jelly Beans - Identifying flavors & comparing to real flavors.
- Cereal - Comparing national brands and store or generic brands
- Oreos - Weird and new flavors
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