Activity 10
Lesson Topic: Physical Science as Inquiry
Objectives: Students will examine samples of rocks to identify and classify them and will then recreate
these types of rock with a hands-on cookie baking activity. Students will use cookies to learn the
difference between rocks and minerals.
NCTM Content Standard Objectives:
 Earth and Space Science
o
Properties of Earth materials
 Physical Science
o
Properties of objects and materials
 Science as Inquiry
o
Formulate and revise scientific explanations and models
o
Design and conduct scientific investigations
Ohio Science Academic Content Standards: Students demonstrate an understanding of the composition
of the physical systems and the concepts and principles that describe and predict physical interactions and
events in the natural world. Students develop scientific habits of mind as they use the processes of
scientific inquiry to ask valid questions, and to gather and analyze information. They are able to reflect
on scientific practices as they develop plans of action to create and evaluate a variety of conclusions.
Students are also able to demonstrate the ability to communicate their findings to others.
Materials:
 Cookie which contains a variety of ingredients (e.g., raisins, chocolate chips, nuts, etc.) **You
can either prepare these before students arrive, or you can make them together in class**
 Paper towels
 Crayons or colored markers
 Data-capture sheet
Instructional Strategy:
1. Let students examine the sample rocks which have several different minerals in them.
2. Show the eight mineral samples and let students compare the rocks and minerals.
3. Explain to students that rocks are made of a mixture of two or more minerals.
4. Tell students that minerals are made of one or more chemicals.
5. Pass out cookies to students. OR Let students make rock cookies of their won so they can put
together the minerals needed to create their rocks
6. Explain to students that the cookies represent rocks and as they break each cookie apart, they
should look for pieces which represent minerals (i.e. raisins, chocolate chips, nuts)
7. Let the students separate the minerals into piles on their paper towels.
8. Have them compare their rock cookies with the natural rocks to see if they can find minerals in
the rocks.
9. Then, have them draw their rock cookies on their data-capture sheets.
10. Finally, have students draw a rock with minerals in it and a single mineral. This will check for
understanding of the concept that rocks are made of one or more minerals, but a mineral is all the
same material.
Activity 10
Rock Cookies
Name: ________________________
Minerals
How Many?
Draw:
1.
1.
1.
2.
2.
2.
3.
3.
3.
4.
4.
4.
5.
5.
5.
What would be a good name for this rock? ______________________________________
If you could make your own rock cookies, what minerals would you put in them?
_____________________________________________________________________________