The STEM Cereal Bar Challenge

Last term, the year 9 class completed their Healthy Lifestyles in science. Activities in STEM are often planned to reinforce and extend science topics. The students have looked into the roles of many professionals working within the food and nutrition industries including the roles of flavour specialists and sports nutritionists. Investigating the environmental advantages of using insects as a source of nutrition and developing menus was an interesting activity but the Cereal Bar challenge gave the students a real Apprentice/Dragons’ Den experience.

Students designed packaging for their cereal bars

In teams, the students were asked to research, prepare, market and present a nut-free, non-bake cereal bar. The students were asked to identify a target market and develop the bar along with the packaging. To complete the challenge, the teams had to pitch their product to our team of ‘dragons’ - Mr TJ, Mrs Roche, Louise and Josh.

Students pitching their cereal bar to a panel

The groups worked well in their teams and learnt valuable lessons in time-management, working to a brief and in communication. Feedback from the panel was thorough and elements of the brief were scored showing the strengths and weaknesses of each team. There was one overall winning team and the other three teams tied for second place.

Here is a brief reflection from year 9 students Adam and Clarence:

During this adventure we have used an array of the IB Learner-Profile Attributes while this project was in progress. Our team was knowledgeable when we worked out the nutritional information for our snack bar. As well as exercising the communication and reflection skills when pitching our firm and reflecting on us as a team and our bar as a product. On the other hand we were also risk takers when we made our final project because we believed that the ingredients we added to our snack bar would make it finer and superior to the one that we made at the start. This was a risk, but at Landmark we learn that risking is what leads to success as proven by our project.

When the students tell you that they are really enjoying a challenge, you know you are onto a winner!