Moon Phases With Oreo Cookie Models
Scrape Oreo cream into moon phase shapes to model the lunar cycle. A delicious astronomy lesson where every phase is edible.
What You'll Need
- 18 Oreo cookies (or similar sandwich cookies)
- 2Plastic knife or spoon
- 3Moon phase chart (printed or drawn)
- 4Paper plate for display
What You'll Need
8 Oreo cookies (or similar sandwich cookies)
A plastic knife or spoon for scraping cream
A moon phase chart (printed or drawn)
A paper plate for displaying the final model
How to Play
Draw or print a chart of the 8 moon phases.
Twist each Oreo open, keeping cream on one side.
New moon: scrape all cream off. Full dark = dark moon.
Waxing crescent: leave a thin crescent of cream on the right.
Shape each cookie to match its phase, scraping cream carefully.
Line up all 8 in order on a plate.
"One full lunar cycle — about 29 days from new moon to new moon."
The Science Behind It
The moon doesn't actually change shape — we just see different amounts of its sunlit side as it orbits Earth. During a new moon, the sun lights the side facing away from us. During a full moon, we see the fully lit face. The phases in between are partial views. The cream represents the illuminated portion, and the dark cookie is the shadow.
Tips
Twist Oreos slowly and evenly to keep the cream intact on one side.
The cream scraping requires patience. Use a plastic knife for precision.
Label each cookie with its phase name on a card placed in front.
After the activity, go outside at night and identify the current moon phase. "Which Oreo matches tonight's moon?"
Track the moon for a full month using a lunar calendar. Observe how it progresses through the phases you modeled.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 25 min, with 5 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: 8 oreo cookies (or similar sandwich cookies), plastic knife or spoon, moon phase chart (printed or drawn), paper plate for display.
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 8-12 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Can this be done indoors?
This activity is designed for indoor play, making it perfect for rainy days or when you're staying inside.
How difficult is this activity?
This is an easy activity that requires minimal setup and supervision. Great for busy days or when you need something quick.
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