Cookie Lab

Objective
Demonstrate detrimental environmental impact through analogue for resource
extraction, specifically mining.

Materials

chocolate chip
chocolate chip cookies (1 per student)
toothpicks (2 per student)
paper towels (1 per student)
timer (1 for class)

Procedure

1. Distribute cookies to class and toothpicks to class

2. Explain that students will be mining for chocolate using only the toothpicks to
touch the cookie.

3. Have students make a sketch of the cookie before mining with qualitative analysis
and some quantitative data (in table)

4. Allow class to mine with instructions to extract as much chocolate as possible for 3
minutes.

5. Have class make an after mining sketch and fill out the 2nd set of data for the
handout.

Data Table

TIme Sketch and observations number of segments of cookie
pre-mining



1


post mining




Conclusion Questions

1. How had the cookie changed from before mining to after mining?

2. What type of mining does this activity most closely simulate?Why?

3. How would the environment of the cookie be affected if there were ecosystems on
the cookie?

Lab Key:
Data tables: responses may vary in sketch quality and such but general trend should be
from 1 large segment in the first to many smaller segments in the second.

1. The cookie was split up into many parts or left intact but with very little mined
depending upon student vigor in mining.

2.This activity most accurately simulates surface mining or strip mining. The reason
being that much of the cookie was stripped away to reveal subterraneous chocolate.

3. Slightly more abstract answers: In general, environmental degradation/ habitat
destruction.








WORKSHEET

Resource Extraction!

1. Other than surface mining like we simulated in the cookie lab, what other types of
mining are there?




2. Where does the energy stored in fossil fuels come from?(hint- how are they
created?)



3. What is the difference between a non renewable resource and a renewable
resource?




4. What type of resource were the chocolate chips in the cookie lab?




5. Oil is extracted both on land and in the ocean. How is this done? sketch both ways








WORKSHEET teacher Key
Resource Extraction!

1. other than surface mining like we simulated in the cookie lab, what other types of mining
are there? other types of mining include subsurface mining and more specifically strip
mining as well as mountaintop removal.

2. Where does the energy stored in fossil fuels come from?(hint- how are they created?)
The energy in fossil fuels originated from dead organic matter.

3. What is the difference between a non renewable resource and a renewable resource?
A nonrenewable resource cannot be replaced or replenished quickly where as a renewable
resource can be sustainable used to continually create energy.

4. What type of resource were the chocolate chips in the cookie lab?
In the cookie lab the chocolate chips were a non renewable resource.


5. Oil is extracted both on land and in the ocean. How is this done? sketch both ways.
Oil is extracted on land with horsehead pumps and at sea with oil rigs. Sketches will vary
but should resemble: