Repeat after us, STEAM is cool! We know it, you know it, and now we have a new channel with our partner America’s Test Kitchen Kids that is dedicated to making science fun and delicious! Whether in the classroom or at home, inspire your kids through a series of different topics ranging from hands-on, step-by-step recipes for easy snacks, to explorative short lessons answering questions like “what is umami?,” “what makes fizzy things fizzy?,” and “why don’t oil and water mix?” Start your STEAM party now!

Not sure where to get started? Check out a few of our tips and tricks for the classroom or at home below.

In the Classroom

Use these videos from America’s Test Kitchen Kids to introduce units on specific STEAM topics. Most are quick primers that give kids a 30,000-ft. view of what you’ll be tackling.

• The Scientific Method: “How to Make the Best Popcorn” is a perfect example of applying the Scientific Method to discover what achieves the best results, and why. Join Victoria and Taalib as they question what makes popcorn pop, how and why, and play with the factors—eventually drawing conclusions from a successful experiment.
• Taste: One of the Five Senses: A great introduction to teaching a unit on our sense of taste is “What is Umami?” Do you know what it is? This easy-to-follow video explains how our taste receptors work, and could open the door to a whole discussion on different taste sensations.
• Molecules and Chemistry: “Why Don’t Oil and Water Mix?” is a video that covers the chemistry of charged particles in liquids. It’s a great introduction to the way molecules work, and how charged particles behave in relation to each other. Ever wonder what gluten is? Have your class check out “What is Gluten Anyway?” Still curious? You can also find out “What Makes Whipped Cream so Fluffy?,” and “What Makes Fizzy Things Fizzy?”

At Home

This is a great opportunity to resort to America’s Test Kitchen Kids bread and butter: helping make people better cooks, and understanding their recipes—in a fun way!

• Yummy recipes: Looking for an easy win this weekend? This is a fantastic way to involve your family in making something great, and spending time together while having fun in the kitchen. Make an amazing cookie with “How to Make the Best (and Biggest) Chocolate Chip Cookie.” The video is lighthearted and stars a character named Professor Scy—an evil scientist who enlists the help of his granddaughter Zoe, a young chef with America’s Test Kitchen Kids to make recipes. Or maybe grilled cheese is your bag? Try “How to Grate Cheese and Make the Best Grilled Cheese.”
• A Little Bit of Science: Get your young chef interested in food science topics by trying “DIY Edible Spheres” together. In this video, Professor Scy and Zoe teach young chefs all about spherification, a cool technique that transforms liquids into solid, edible spheres!

As you and your family or students explore the America’s Test Kitchen Kids channel, be sure to tag us @GoNoodle! Happy experimenting (and eating)!