CAMDEN – Ninety-plus eighth grade students at Camden-Rockport Middle School participated in an inter-scholastic, inter-disciplinary challenge focusing on food. Anchored in science, the project included a focus on the chemistry of cooking, family consumer science, food preparation, menu planning and multimedia presentation.

Family Consumer Science Teacher Susan Burwell recorded 65 presentations by students, and while some worked alone, others had project partners. 

The challenge itself represented a team effort with Burwell and eighth grade science teacher Leah Percy.

“Social studies were involved, in that they picked a recipe and then they chose to learn about a particular ingredient in their recipe, or more about the recipe itself,”said Burwell.

Foods included croissants, olive oil, pesto, sushi, cornbread, burgers, casserole, filet mignon, even American Apple Pie. Cultures and countries were equally well represented: Italy, Poland, Germany, China, Japan, Mexico, Canada and from all across the U.S.

Whatever the students chose, it was evident they took their subject matter and assignment seriously.

CRMS student Tristen Shaw said the project entailed nine weeks of research, preparing a recipe, and presenting a finished dish.

“It was a lot of cooking for practice,” he said, “but for me the easiest part was researching ingredients.”

Toward the project’s end, students were expected to prepare their presentations, and studies moved into language arts.

“That was a critical piece, learning to share their knowledge,” Burwell said. “It was great to hear students share experiences about what went wrong in the kitchen and then what went right.”

She said the project explored why food tastes delicious, understanding nuances of salts or adding acids to make flavors more complex, and enjoyable.

Every student invited one adult to the presentation.

 “We liked the intimacy this idea presented,” said Burwell. “Instead of having a big science fair, we wanted to try a family style situation.”

John Schramm, of Camden, was invited by his daughter, Samantha, who was part of a group of three girls making and presenting burgers. They were diligent, and each one worked hard, he said.

Samantha said she enjoyed the research, and learning food science.

Students were proud of what they had accomplished, and Burwell looks forward to repeating the nine-week project next year to a new group of students.