Thank you to future teachers Krista and Joanie
for this sweet science experiment!
Halloween candy has so many marvelous uses.
for this sweet science experiment!
Halloween candy has so many marvelous uses.
Step #1: Choose two or three different kinds of chocolate treats. These represent the different kinds of rocks found on earth (sedimentary rock, igneous rock or older metamorphic rock). Step#2: Unwrap the candy (rocks) and place in a microwave safe container Note how different each candy bar looks although they are made from much the same elements. Step #3: Heat the chocolates - checking frequently. This represents the heat that comes from magma within the earth. Step#4: Smash the chocolates. This represents pressure from "tectonic processes such as continental collisions". Step #5: Pour the chocolate on to wax paper and let the new mixture cool. After just a brief wait, you'll see how the rocks (chocolates) have melded together to create a new form. These new rocks are called metamorphic rock because of the changes they have undergone. Step#6: Break open the rocks to see the newly formed layers. And yes... enjoy! |
When I asked my boys to think about how these chocolates were like and not-like metamorphic rocks - this is what they had to say:
And always one with a flair for the dramatic, my 10 year old sums up this science lesson for us all: