Which has more calories, a cupcake or a rat? The odd question grabs pupils' attention as they learn about food as fuel in an intriguing installment of the PBS food science playlist. The video explains how scientists use a bomb calorimeter to determine the amount of energy stored in food. It also discusses how the digestive systems of humans and rats fuel the body.

Concepts

food, potential energy, calorimetry, snakes, the digestive system, calories

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Add vocabulary words from the crossword puzzle to student science journals

Classroom Considerations

• Some young scientists may be bothered by watching a python eat a rat
• Available for download or streaming

Pros

• Video available in English and Spanish with closed captioning in both
• Provides discussion questions, tips for increasing student engagement, and teaching connections under support materials

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.6.2 SL.7.2 SL.8.2 SL.9-10.2 SL.11-12.2 RST.6-8.4 RST.9-10.4 RST.11-12.4