Cookie Science

The first science mini-unit we do with the third graders is have them make cookies.  We introduce them to scientific observations and practice making observations of various types of store bought cookies. They used their five senses to make observations and made detailed drawings as well.  Then we looked at five different chocolate chip cookie recipes and read through the ingredients  and directions.  There was an original recipe and each of the four other recipes had two ingredients where the amount was switched.  This led us to a discussion on changing variables.

The day before the cookie making, the kids practiced their observation skills again when they tasted the dry ingredients.  The baking powder got the biggest disgusting faces, as well as the unsweetened cocoa powder.  It was pretty funny to watch!    

The following day, each group was assigned one of the recipes.  They had to do everything themselves, under the watchful eye of a parent. One recipe switched the amount of baking powder and flour.  One of the recipes switched the amount of margarine for eggs....so 7 eggs instead of 2!

Each group made observations about their dough before they put the dough on the cookie sheets.

The following day, we all tasted each of the cookies and made observations.  Only two tasted any good!  The other three recipes, not so great!  The baking powder one was so crumbly and the recipe with 7 eggs was like rubber.  The kids all got a kick out of tasting the cookies they made.

We finished up with a graph on which recipe was their favorite, discussed more about changing variables and watched a quick video on the importance of making scientific observations.  This was a very simple, but very engaging week of science!

Enjoying every moment.