Packing Peanut Density

Overview

Key Content Areas: Bioproducts, Environment, Mathematical Analysis, Scientific Inquiry, Sustainability
Contributors: Kim LaCelle, Wheatland-Chili School District
Grade Levels: 6-8; 9-12
Time Needed: 90 minutes

When you open many boxes, packing peanuts fill the spaces. It’s easy not to think about it, but what are these made of? Does it matter? Have we thought about the science behind the peanut? Can we make packing peanuts out of renewable materials instead of petroleum products? Let’s start making our own packing peanuts with cornstarch and compare them to typical packing peanuts!

Download Curriculum

Links will open in a new window or download as a PDF. Contact us for editable versions of these files to customize for your classroom.

 Lab Manual