I am not sure who created this wonderful activity. I was introduced to it just after the millennium by a colleague and I am still using it today. Simply using a Double Stuf Oreo cookie as a manipulative, students can reaffirm their learning about some of the key plate boundaries: convergent boundary, divergent boundary, transform boundary and a subduction zone.
I’ve used other cookies when the Double Stuf was not available and the results are not as good. You need that extra icing for the cookie or biscuit part to slide more easily. Otherwise, the cookie/biscuit is likely to break. Although there is lots of chatter on the web about the decrease in the icing in the Double Stuf for about the past 10 years, there is still a bit of a difference.
I recommend teaching about the geologic terms first and have students copy definitions with an accompanying drawing, to first understand each type of plate boundary. Then before a formal assessment or evaluation they can complete the cookie activity. It really does help connect their learning. You will also find the students more engaged and chatty about plate boundaries. Of course, the best part is when they can eat their cookie:) I almost always buy extra so they can have a whole unbroken cookie afterwards if they choose.
Below is a step-by-step guide for the Double Stuf Oreo Plate Tectonics Simulation. A link to a YouTube video follows. If you would like to subscribe to my blog, the Google Slides above showing transform, convergent (with subduction zone) and divergent plate boundaries are available in the Subscriber Resources section.
What you need:
1. Paper towel, napkin or tissue- 1x sheet for each student
2. Double Stuf Oreos- 1x for each student; There are about 36 cookies in each 261g package.
Double Stuf Oreo Plate Tectonics Simulation INSTRUCTIONS:
- #1. Have students gently twist off the top or bottom of their Oreo
- #2. The wafer part will represent the lithosphere, or the earth’s crust.
- #3. Have students gently break their separated wafer in the middle.
- #4. Place the broken lithosphere back on the mantle.
- #5. Using 2 fingers on the bottom of each side of the broken crust and thumbs supporting the top of the cookie, slide each of the plates along side each other to demonstrate a transform boundary.
- #6. Place the crust back to it’s original place. Now, with a bit of pressure with your fingers or thumbs on top, slide the two “plates” away from each other to demonstrate a divergent boundary. Note that the icing in the middle should have risen up a bit. This is also representative of sea floor spreading.
- #7. Now push the plates back to the center to demonstrate a convergent boundary. More of the mantle (icing) should have risen between the two plates.
- #8. Pick up one of the broken plates and slide or place it slightly over one side of the other plate to demonstrate a subduction zone.
- #9. EAT!!!
Happy Teaching!
