Rocks In The Kitchen

In Year 8 Science this term, our students have been looking at the different types of rocks and how they’re formed. To help with their understanding they spent time in the kitchen experimenting with different “rock forming” techniques. Igneous rock being formed from magma or lava cooling was replicated by making tempered chocolate; a very precise preparation technique with which our students had mixed results.

Sedimentary rock is formed when layers of sediment are allowed to settle on top of each other, creating pressure on the layers below. This was demonstrated through the preparation of caramel slice, well known for its biscuit, caramel and chocolate layers. 

Metamorphic rock is formed when existing rock is subjected to high temperature or high levels of pressure, which causes the rock to become denser and harder. The students replicated this by baking banana and choc chip muffins, showing how rock can be “mixed” and “squeezed” by pressure and changed by heat. A big shout out to Megan who gave up her time to help the students create their “rocks”.