I don’t know about you but in our home, we love Chips and that is why I was excited to share a fun #Holiday that happens on January 29 National Corn Chip Day #NationalCornChipDay. I don’t know about you, but I love Corn Chips.
My favorite store-bought Corn Chips are Fritos but if we were purchasing Corn Chips at a Mexican Restaurant it would be Mexican Inn hands down. Do you like Corn Chips? If so do you have a favorite brand or place to get Corn Chips and why?
January 29 — National Corn Chip Day– #NationalCornChipDay
I wanted to remind you crunch time arrives every year on January 29th as we celebrate National Corn Chip Day. National Corn Chip Day is a delicious tribute to one of America’s favorite salty snacks. Whether you love Corn Chips scooped into chili, layered into nachos, dipped in salsa, or enjoyed straight from the bag, corn chips bring bold flavor and big fun to any table.
Fun Ways to Celebrate
- Build a DIY Nacho Bar for the family
- Try a new dip — queso, guacamole, or a spicy bean dip
- Make “walking tacos” for an easy weeknight dinner
- Host a taste‑test with different brands and flavors
- Create a kid‑friendly recipe using crushed corn chips for crunch
Fun Fact
Corn chips were popularized in the 1930s and quickly became a staple snack thanks to their hearty texture and unmistakable crunch.
Kid‑Friendly Homemade Corn Chips– A fun, crunchy, family‑friendly snack that kids can help cut, season, and bake.
Ingredients
- 12 small corn tortillas
- 2 tablespoons mild vegetable oil (or olive oil)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Optional mild seasonings:
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon mild chili powder (very optional for kids)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Cut the tortillas into kid‑friendly shapes: triangles, strips, or even cookie‑cutter shapes for extra fun.
- Brush lightly with oil on both sides.
- Sprinkle with salt and any optional mild seasonings.
- Spread on a baking sheet in a single layer so they crisp evenly.
- Bake for 10–15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crisp.
- Cool completely — they crisp even more as they cool.
Tips for Kid Involvement
- Let kids brush the oil on the tortillas.
- Use cookie cutters for fun shapes (stars, hearts, animals).
- Have them mix the seasoning in a small bowl and sprinkle it on top.
Serving Ideas
- Pair with mild salsa, guacamole, or cheese dip.
- Use as a crunchy topping for taco salads or chili.
- Make “nacho faces” with cheese, olives, and veggies for a playful snack.
National Corn Chip Day — Homeschool Lessons– January 29 #NationalCornChipDay
1. History & Geography: The Journey of the Corn Chip
Focus: Origins, culture, and how foods travel. Activity:
- Read a short kid‑friendly paragraph about how corn‑based snacks began in Mexico and became popular in Texas.
- Show kids both locations on a map.
- Discuss how foods move from one culture to another and become part of everyday life.
Mini Challenge: Name three foods your family eats that originally came from another country.
2. Science: What Makes a Chip Crunchy
Focus: Heat, moisture, and texture. Activity:
- Compare a soft corn tortilla to a corn chip.
- Kids describe differences using the five senses.
- Warm a chip for a few seconds and observe how heat affects crispness.
- Talk about how frying removes moisture to create crunch.
Vocabulary: moisture, crisp, texture, absorb, fry
3. Math: Chip‑Powered Learning
Focus: Counting, sorting, fractions, and simple graphing. Activities:
- Count chips by 2s, 5s, or 10s.
- Sort chips by shape or size.
- Create a bar graph showing how many of each shape you found.
- Break chips to demonstrate fractions (½, ¼, whole).
Extension: Estimate how many chips are in a small bowl, then count to check.
4. Literacy: Creative Flavor Writing
Focus: Vocabulary, imagination, and descriptive writing. Activities:
- Vocabulary words: savory, crunchy, bold, flavor, kernel, masa.
- Writing prompt: “If I could invent a new corn chip flavor, it would taste like…”
- Younger kids draw their chip flavor; older kids write a short commercial for it.
5. Art: Design Your Own Chip Bag
Focus: Branding, creativity, and visual design. Materials: Paper, crayons, markers, stickers. Activity:
- Kids create a chip brand name, flavor, mascot, colors, and slogan.
- Display finished bags on a pretend store shelf.
6. Cooking: Make Your Own Corn Chips
Focus: Following directions and kitchen confidence. Activity:
- Cut corn tortillas into triangles.
- Brush lightly with oil and sprinkle with salt.
- Bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes until crisp.
- Compare homemade chips to store‑bought ones.
Discussion: Which chip had the best crunch and why?
7. Trivia Time
- Corn is one of the oldest crops grown in the Americas.
- Corn chips and tortilla chips are made differently.
- Fritos were among the first mass‑produced corn chips in the U.S.
8. STEM Challenge: Build a Corn Chip Tower
Focus: Engineering, balance, and problem‑solving. Activity:
- Build the tallest tower using corn chips and a tiny bit of peanut butter or cream cheese as “glue.”
- Measure the height and record results.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
