1. Cookie Rocks - This experiment is inspired by Kinderpond's "C is for Cookie." Have all students sit around a large table. Give each kid a cookie. Then, have them destroy it!
Weathering
First, have them experiment with a toothpick. Next, give them an ice cube to see the effects of ice on a cookie. They'll use the cube to chop at the cookie. Then, hand out an eyedropper to represent rain. Kids squirt water on the cookie. Note: You could even use a spray bottle.
Erosion
Once their finished demolishing their cookie, pass out straws. Have kids blow (wind) their cookie crumbles (rock fragments) toward the center of the table. Then, sweep their crumbs into a pile.
Deposition
Add a couple drops of water to their crumbs (if needed) and squish them all together.
2. Cookie Mining Economics - Check out the Museum of Science and Industry's Cookie Mining Project. Kids excavate chocolate chips from a cookie; but, first they have to purchase the materials they need and stay within their price range!
energy resources (renewable vs. non-renewable) - You can also use this activity to explore . Kids get a soft and hard chocolate chip cookie (which represent 2 landsites). Can they dig out coal without harming the landsite? Which site was easier to retrieve the coal? Visit Third Grade Thinkers for instructions!
Weathering
First, have them experiment with a toothpick. Next, give them an ice cube to see the effects of ice on a cookie. They'll use the cube to chop at the cookie. Then, hand out an eyedropper to represent rain. Kids squirt water on the cookie. Note: You could even use a spray bottle.
Erosion
Once their finished demolishing their cookie, pass out straws. Have kids blow (wind) their cookie crumbles (rock fragments) toward the center of the table. Then, sweep their crumbs into a pile.
Deposition
Add a couple drops of water to their crumbs (if needed) and squish them all together.
2. Cookie Mining Economics - Check out the Museum of Science and Industry's Cookie Mining Project. Kids excavate chocolate chips from a cookie; but, first they have to purchase the materials they need and stay within their price range!
energy resources (renewable vs. non-renewable) - You can also use this activity to explore . Kids get a soft and hard chocolate chip cookie (which represent 2 landsites). Can they dig out coal without harming the landsite? Which site was easier to retrieve the coal? Visit Third Grade Thinkers for instructions!
I did this with 3rd and 4th graders a few years ago as a part of the rocks/minerals unit. They LOVED it.
ReplyDeleteIt's now hard to look at a cookie as just a cookie.
Janet | expateducator.com
That's awesome! I guess it would be hard to look at a cookie the same after dissecting it! lol
DeleteI just found your website. This is one of the best sites ever for teaching my kids. We homeschool and I have been on your site for an hour enjoying all the great activities that you have posted! Thank you!! We'll keep you posted about how it goes!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I would love to hear how it works out!
DeleteHelp! Where do I get the the cookie mining worksheet? I can't find it on the museum website
ReplyDeletegoogle search cookie mining worksheet. you can look at the different options and find one that is developmentally appropriate for the grade that you teach. i don't know where the one on the museum site is - there isn't a link!
Delete