Our Mobile Lab rolls to your school for the day offering science, art and cooking activities!
- Activities for students in Grades K-8 (see below)
- 60 students maximum; 30 students in the morning; 30 in the afternoon (40 student minimum)
- Cost is $21 per students
- The Mobile Food Lab is nut-free.
For more information, please call 201-390-5583.
Note: At this time, our Mobile Food Lab activities have been modified to adhere to health and safety guidelines regarding the pandemic. For all grade levels, the “Cooking with Herbs and Plants” activity has been replaced with “Popcorn 3 Ways” and no food is consumed during programming. For additional changes, please inquire.
Mobile Lab Programs
Grades K-2 (2 hour program)
Science: Worms and Mush Making
Students will learn about decomposition and composting. They will meet “Lumbry” our 6 foot worm and some live friends. Students will then work together in teams to create food for the worms by mushing apples along with plant scraps.
Art: Spicy Painting
Children will get to smell Nutmeg, Tandoori Seasoning, Smoked Paprika, Mixed Spice, Ground Cinnamon, Chinese Five Spice Chicken Salt, Moroccan Seasoning and Turmeric; and talk about spices. They will use the spices to create an aromatic “Spice By Number” painting to take home.
Cooking with Herbs and Plants: “Young Chefs Creators”
In the mobile teaching kitchen, students will cook, eat and learn. Students will explore and cook with plants while learning to use fresh herbs to flavor a delicious seasonal recipe. By learning about taste and fresh ingredients, students are introduced to becoming young chefs of their own culinary creations. Students will eat what they make. (Note: the Mobile Food Lab is nut-free)
Grades 3-5 (2 hour program)
Science: Garden in a Bottle
Can plants grow without soil? Using hydroponics, plants get the nutrients they need from a water solution. Terrestrial plants may be grown with only their roots exposed to the mineral solution! Students will work in teams to construct a simple hydroponic wick system in a plastic bottle; plant different seeds; take them back to school to conduct an experiment to test which plants grow best without soil.
Art: Make Your Own Tea Bag
Herbal teas are popular with all ages and taste great. They are made from the infusion of plant material in hot water and contain no caffeine. Students will make their own herbal tea bags using coffee filters and the blend of herbs and spices they choose from the assortment provided on the Mobile Lab.
Cooking with Herbs and Plants: “The Improv Chef”
In the mobile teaching kitchen, students will cook, eat, and learn. Students will be encouraged to improvise while learning to use fresh herbs and additional ingredients to flavor a delicious seasonal plant based recipe. Students will develop an understanding of taste and ways to make the recipe their own. Students will eat their creations. (Note: the Mobile Food Lab is nut-free)
Grades 6-8 (2 hour program)
Science: Hydroponic Growth Rate Experiments
Students will work in teams to construct a simple hydroponic wick system in plastic bottles and plant basil seeds. They will design a set of experiments to conduct in their classrooms to measure the effects of light intensity and/or different nutrient concentrations on the growth of the basil plants.
Art: Leaf Skeletons
A leaf’s veining system provides food and water to the rest of its cells. Once a leaf is removed from the plant it is no longer getting the nutrients it needs from the ground through the stem of the plant and its tissue will break down easily. Students will treat leaves and remove the soft tissue – all that remains will be the delicate system of veins that make a lacy pattern! They can frame their leaf skeleton, or use it to decorate a homemade card.
Cooking with Herbs and Plants: “Exploring Flavor and Food Science”
In the mobile teaching kitchen, students will cook, eat and learn. Students will explore and cook with plants while learning to use herbs to flavor a delicious seasonal fresh garden salad. By creating their own vinaigrette, students will understand the concept of emulsion while experimenting with flavor profiles. Students will eat their creations. (Note: the Mobile Food Lab is nut-free)