Edible Rocks

Standard Indicator Assignment #1Science Standard 4.3.6September 15th, 2009Kelly Clem

Science Standard 3 – The Physical Setting

Indicator 4.3.6 - Recognize and describe that rock is composed of different combinations of minerals.

Taken from: http://dc.doe.in.gov/Standards/AcademicStandards/StandardSearch.aspx

Link to Activity: http://www.indianastandardsresources.org/files/sci/sci_4_3_rocks.pdf

Definitions

Edible - fit to be eaten as food Observations - something that is learned in the

course of observing things Texture - the visual and esp. tactile quality of a

surface: rough texture. Mass - A measure of the amount of matter

contained in or constituting a physical body. Composed - to make or form by combining

things, parts, or elements Definitions from www.dictionary.com

Background Information

Think about some common ingredients in making cookies or other baked goods.

Think about how to compare and contrast different items.

Think about the questions, “What is a rock?”, “What makes up a rock?”, and “Are all rocks the same?”

What will we need?

Paper plate Plastic spoon Pencil Hand lens Balance Edible cookies Worksheet

Copy of Worksheet

Copy of Edible Rocks Recipe

Task 1: Observe

Put your edible rock on your paper plate. Sketch your “rock” on your worksheet. Use your hand lens to view your “rock”

up close. Then, sketch the version of the rock you see through your hand lens.

List some of the properties of your “rocks.” (Hints: What color, size, shape, and texture does it have)

It’s all about the minerals!

Rocks are made up of many different minerals. Minerals are solid, naturally occurring substances.

Observing different properties in rocks tells scientists about the minerals that make up the rocks.

Your edible rocks are made up of ingredients instead of minerals. Write down what ingredients you think are in the cookies.

Task 2: Determining Mass

Using your balance, figure out the mass of your edible rock.

Next, take your spoon and carefully take apart your rock so we can study the ingredients inside. This is just like a scientist taking apart a rock to study the minerals inside!

Add any new ingredients you found to your original ingredient list.

What do you think the mass of the rock would be now that it is in pieces?

Last Task

Is the mass of the rock in pieces the same or different from the mass of the rock as a whole?

Find the masses of each of the individual sections of the cookie.

Summary

All of the ingredients put together make up the edible cookies, just like combinations of minerals make up rocks in nature.

The mass of a whole object is equal to the sum of the masses of its parts.

Questions

Would the edible rocks have been the same had I substituted chili powder for flour and nuts for raisins?

How do combinations of minerals make rocks look different from one another?

Why was the mass of your rock as a whole the same or different from the mass of your rock in parts?

Extension question: Where else have you heard of minerals? Have you heard of minerals in foods?

Resources

www.dictionary.com http://dc.doe.in.gov/Standards/AcademicStandards/StandardSearch.aspx http://www.indianastandardsresources.org/files/sci/sci_4_3_rocks.pdf References on composition of rocks http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/10d.html http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Geophys/mincomp.htmlIdentifying Minerals http://www.rocksforkids.com/RFK/identification.htmlRocks and Minerals http://www.kidskonnect.com/content/view/97/27/ http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/jmresources/rocks/links.htmlMinerals in Food http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/food/minerals.html