That tasty paper box of snacks is kettle corn. To make kettle corn, you’re doing science and math: you heat the popcorn kernels in a mix of oil, sugar and salt. When sugar melts, the heat changes it into gooey golden caramel, which then coats the kernels. You can buy kettle corn at the store, but if you make your own, you get to eat it nice and warm and your kitchen will smell amazing, too.
Wee ones: To make kettle corn you need popcorn kernels, oil, sugar and salt. How many ingredients (types of food) do you need?
Little kids: If 3 out of 10 kernels you cook don’t pop, how many do pop? Bonus: If you grab 12 sticky pieces, eat half of them, and then eat half of what’s left, how many pieces do you still have in your hand?
Big kids: Each 1/2 cup of kernels needs 1/4 cup of sugar for that yummy caramel. How much sugar does a full cup of kernels need? Bonus: How much popcorn do you think is in that box? How did you come up with a guess?
Answers:
Wee ones: 4 ingredients.
Little kids: 7 kernels. Bonus: 3 pieces, since you eat 6 of the 12, then eat 3 of the 6 left.
Big kids: 1/2 cup of sugar, since you need twice as much. Bonus: There are lots of ways to guess. You could guess there are 30 pieces showing on top, and that the box hides 3 times as much, which would give you 120 pieces. But see what number you think it is!
