Soy-based Science
The OBIC Bioproducts Innovation Center has collaborated with Education Projects to develop soy-based lesson plans designed to advocate for the adoption of a biobased lifestyle by building awareness of renewable, plant-derived fuels, energy, and products such as soy-based products and biodiesel. These lesson plans were intended to inspire middle school students to pursue further education and develop careers in the soybean industry. Funding and support for this project comes from the Ohio Soybean Council.
Here, Fishy Fishy: Aquaculture Systems
How does soymeal feed compare to fishmeal feed when raising Tilapia in an aquaculture system?
Bean Book
What happens to a seed as it germinates?
Dissect a Seed
What is inside a seed?
Extracting Soybean Oil
How can there be oil in a seed? How might we extract it?
Choose My Plate
What foods make up a healthy diet?
BioProducts Outreach and STEM Engagement
The lessons created through the “BioProducts Outreach and STEM Engagement” will provide high school educators with lessons to utilize in developing workforce knowledge and skills needed in all seven areas of the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Career Clusters and understanding complex agricultural systems (National Council for Agricultural Education, 2009). The career clusters include Plant Systems; Animal Systems; Power, Structural and Technical Systems; Natural Resource Systems; Environmental Service Systems; Agribusiness Systems; and Food Products and Processing Systems.
Composites: Bioresins? Natural Fibers?
Discover how a variety of biomass feedstocks can be used to improve the characteristics and performance of composite materials. (Chemistry) (Grades 6-9)
Don't Waste the Waste
Create a model anaerobic digester to capture and measure biogas production and understand the anaerobic digestion process. (Chemistry) (Grades 1-8)
From Algae to Oil
Algae, a renewable source of biofuel, have great potential to be an alternative to non-renewable sources like crude oil. (Chemistry) (Grades 6-12)
Agriculture in Soap: Plant Oils Matter
Make soap from glycerine, recognize its desirable properties and functions in products to classify glycerine as a by-product from biofuels. (Chemistry) (Grades 1-6)
Extreme Makeover: Landfill Edition
Design a state-of-the-art landfill to be placed within the county that will take into account recycling and composting products. (Chemistry, Earth Science) (Grades 1-6)
Flour and Yeast Do WHAT?
Recognize that starch, proteins, and cellulose are natural polymers found in the grains we use and the food we eat. (Chemistry) (Grades 4-6)
Green at Home
Investigate the emerging bioproducts industry in your home and community. (Chemistry) (Grades 5-8)
Natural Adhesives
Investigate natural alternatives compared to synthetic-based adhesives. (Biology, Chemistry) (Grades 5-12)
Natural Rubber
Explore and investigate an alternative source of rubber. (Physical Science) (Grades 5-12)
OMG or GMO?
Discover that one of the applications of biotechnology has created issues of genetic modified organisms (GMOs) and genetically modified (GM) foods. (Chemistry, Environmental Science) (Grades 6-8)
Performance Matters
Evaluate and compare the performance of bioproducts and traditional cleaning products using scientific methods. (Physical Science, Chemistry) (Grades 4-8)
PLA Plastic: Shrink Sleeve
Identify reasons to use biobased and biodegradable products in packaging. Students will design a compostability test for PLA packaging. (Chemistry, Earth Science) (Grades 4-8)
Soy Foam: Egg Drop
Recognize and classify products as polymers. Compare the usability of conventional polymers to biobased packaging materials. (Physics) (Grades 4-12)
Soy Foam: Insulation
Identify reasons to choose soy foam insulation over traditional synthetic insulation. (Chemistry) (Grades 4-12)
Soy Ink
Recognize that properties of biomass make them sustainable substitutes in industrial products; test the properties of soy oil and soy lecithin in making ink. (Chemistry) (Grades 6-12)
Soy Lubricant: Benefits of Bioproducts
Investigate the characteristics and effectiveness of bio-based lubricant versus synthetic-based lubricants. (Chemistry, Physical Science) (Grades 6-12)
Starch-based Packing Peanuts
Recognize and classify products as polymers and compare the usability of conventional polymers to biobased packaging materials. (Chemistry, Physical Science) (Grades 6-12)
Waste to WOW!
Investigate the process of fermentation and anaerobic digestion. Apply the problem-solving model to a real world problem or product design. (Physical Science) (Grades 9-12)
Project supported by a Secondary Education/2-Year Postsecondary Education/Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom grant from the United States Department of Agriculture - National Institute of Food and Agriculture under Award No. 2010-38414-21028. Any opinion, findings, conclusions or recommendation expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.