Scientists know that lab experiments can utilize a variety of materials and tools, including beakers, Petri dishes, graphs, and test tubes. But in the Middle School science lab, eighth graders in Science Teacher Sarah Bain’s Earth and Space Science class recently used an unconventional ingredient as they learned about the phases of the moon: chocolate sandwich cookies. 

“I was looking for a novel way for students to learn about the eight phases of the moon,” said Mrs. Bain. “I had them begin by drawing the names of the phases on large sheets of paper and then use the cookies to represent the different phases of the lunar cycle, from New Moon to Waning Crescent.” Working in teams, the students scooped out part of the filling on the cookies to show where the moon is illuminated during each stage of the cycle.  

Mrs. Bain’s eighth-grade students have also been studying the planets and their characteristics. As part of their seminar class in the Bryan Innovation Lab, each student was assigned a planet and used a cookie, icing, food coloring, and candy to decorate it. After photographing their individual cookie planets with their iPads, they sorted them into the proper order of the planets, from the Sun to Pluto. 

“This was a unique way for students to compare their planets,” said Mrs. Bain. “It was fun to see students’ creativity expressed in their renditions of the planets. Plus, we were able to eat a few cookies along the way!”