Overview:
Students will disassemble the packaging from a 10-pack of individual cereal servings and single large box of cereal with
multiple servings and measure and compare the amount of packaging of the individual servings and of the large box.
They will also measure and compare the amount of cereal in the packages.
Leading Question:
Will you create more waste if you buy foods in large packages, or in small packages?
Procedure:
1. Look at the two unopened cereal packages and have the students predict which has more packaging and which
has more cereal.
2. Disassemble the variety pack and arrange the packaging in a way that will make it easily comparable to the
packaging of the larger box.
3. While disassembling the variety pack, measure the amount of cereal in cups that is in the variety pack. Keep
track of the number of cups on a whiteboard/blackboard.
4. Disassemble the big box of cereal and measure the amount of cereal in the big box.
(Note: Be sure not to waste the cereal. Keep it clean and in a container so that it can be saved for snacks.)
Discussion Questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Which had more cereal and which had more packaging?
How is the packaging disposed of when the cereal is gone?
What is the effect of single serving packaging on the waste stream?
What other kinds of food can be bought in individual servings? Can they also be bought in bulk?
Why do people buy individual servings?
When is it necessary, and when is it not?