| Did you know that all foods we eat have some type | | | | - Now have your parents use a lighter and light the |
| of energy in them. That is why we eat them because | | | | marshmallow on fire. |
| our bodies need food to convert to energy and allow | | | | - Right away put the coffee can over the |
| our muscles to move. Energy is heat for our bodies. | | | | marshmallow and put the water filed soup can with |
| How can we see what type of energy a piece of | | | | wooden skewer on top of that. It should hang from the |
| food contains even though we are not eating it and | | | | top of the coffee can over the marshmallow. It looks |
| digesting it? We will light a piece of food to show it has | | | | kind of like a camp fire as you are trying to heat the |
| energy, otherwise it would not burn and then use the | | | | water in the soup can with the marshmallow. |
| energy from it burning to show it can heat water. | | | | - Let the marshmallow burn until it goes out. |
| Get these materials for the science experiment: | | | | - As soon as the flame goes out put the thermometer |
| - A large coffee can | | | | into the water and record the temperature. |
| - A smaller can like a soup can | | | | Now you will do this with the peanut and piece of |
| - A wooden skewer like used for barbeque careful as | | | | bread. (Note: the peanut may take a little while to light |
| the edges will be very sharp so ask a parent for help. | | | | but do not give up. It will light because it has energy |
| - You will now want to punch holes around the side | | | | inside it.) |
| edges of the large coffee can. You can use an ice | | | | Make sure to record your temperature each time and |
| pick with a hammer on a wooden cutting board. | | | | use new room temperature water each time you do |
| Definitely have your parents do this part. The reason | | | | this. |
| for doing this is so that you can release a small bit of | | | | What you have discovered is that each type of food |
| oxygen. | | | | we eat will burn because it has energy stored within it |
| - The small can probably already has the top removed | | | | and that is what our body uses as fuel. Some foods |
| but if not go ahead and take the top off. | | | | have more energy inside them than others and that |
| - Punch two holes in the top of the small can on | | | | energy can be used to heat water just like it used the |
| opposite sides. Again have your parents do this hole | | | | energy to keep our bodies warm. |
| punching. | | | | What you are learning is that everything has energy |
| - Put the wooden skewer through the holes so it | | | | which is measured in BTUs and for every BTU it |
| evenly hangs from both sides. | | | | should be able to raise four ounces of water 1 degree |
| - Pour a small amount of water into the small can. | | | | so when you see how many degrees the water |
| (About 2/3 to ½ cup works well.) Only use room | | | | temperature went up should show you how many |
| temperature water. | | | | BTUs of energy that piece of food contained. |
| - Use the thermometer to record the temperature. | | | | |