Do you ever get to the point in the year when the kids think they know everything and just won’t read a recipe to save their life (or grade)?!Already at the point this year, I decided “I'll show them” and gave them a “Mystery Lab”! I choose a recipe I have done before and edited it so the title no longer existed. I also added crazy steps to hopefully throw them off, or at least get them to read the dang thing!
The recipe - Gelatin Cookies - is one I found on Pinterest and have done as an intro lab to get them acquainted with their color kitchens in the past - basically, they are jello-flavored cookies and remind me of jolly ranchers! I have each kitchen make a batch of the color of their kitchen and encourage them to swap cookies with others at the end to try them all! Jello Cookies on Pinterest
Seeing as the cookies call for gelatin mix I also included instructions for making gelatin on the side of the recipe but no instructions for them to actually have to do that within the real part of the receipt…he he he…
My favorite part was that several groups fell for a least a couple of the extra unnecessary steps - I had to walk away and giggle as I caught kids carefully sifting the flour back and forth! I also laughed out loud when one group lied to another about “already switching” their batter with another kitchen! Overall the cookies turned out fantastic and the kids liked them...maybe not me so much, but that's okay!
Logistics - I have 47min. class periods - this recipe could maybe be done in one, BUT I like to not see kids rush to clean up (that's how germs spread and dishes break) so I broke this lab into 2 days. If you do the same, plan to have something for the kids who actually read the recipe to do when they finish on day 1, IF they do it correctly it won't take more than 10mins! Here is my recipe: Mystery Lab Recipe
Just read the recipe. It's evil and I love it! Lol
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ReplyDeleteShould the Day 1 batter be like powder? I measured it exactly to try it myself and it is not a smooth batter.
ReplyDeleteNo, it should be a slightly grainy version of soft cookie dough - reminds me of play dough.
DeleteI love this! SO glad I found your blog.
ReplyDeleteI was wanting another Mystery Recipe for my classes and this one is perfect!
ReplyDeleteI cannot open the Lab link for some reason. If you can email it to me, or let me know how to try again, I'd love that! matagi.fanua@westada.org
ReplyDeleteGreat lessons, thanks!
Just did this today with my class. I loved it! They hated it! If they would just read directions carefully, life would have been easier today. Do you have any other mystery labs? I would love to do two or three more like this this year. Thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteOMG!! You are genius!!!
ReplyDeleteSorry me again!! Do you have a reflection you have them fill out after?
ReplyDeleteCan I get access for this please????
ReplyDeleteLove to use this in class if you can share it with me! :)
ReplyDeleteHi, how can I get a copy of this recipe for my class?
ReplyDeleteMay I have access to the mystery cookie lesson? First year teacher here and could use something to help with directions. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm dying to do this with my students - they are seriously struggling with reading directions! The recipe is marked as "request access" can you mark it for copy or email me a copy? Thanks!!
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