Topography Principles Demonstrated Using Stack of Pancakes As 3-D Model
By Jeremy S.
This semester’s “sweetest” science experiment was also the stickiest. Family Foundation School Teacher Larry Leung took his third period Earth Science class to the middle school kitchen, cooking up stacks of pancakes to simulate a topographical map.
The unprecedented curriculum addition was the brainchild of the students during their unit on topography. Students thought that topographical maps looked like stacks of pancakes, and suggested the breakfast demonstration.
Leung told them it would only happen if they all passed the class for the month. The students rose to the challenge, and Leung held true to his word. “This is so cool; I don’t know how we talked him into this,” said a flabbergasted Greg R.
The scientific principle that Leung chose to demonstrate was known as the “Law of V’s.”
Syrup poured over the pile of flapjacks followed river flow principles students had learned about in the previous unit.
“The pancake stack simulated the typical profile of a mountain,” said Leung.
The class agreed, however, that the best part was when they finally ate their edible experiment.
“I’ve never had a more delicious pancake, and I’m learning, too,” said David K.
They began cooking at 8 am. The green cooks set off the smoke detector multiple times before making anything palatable, but by the end of the morning, they had learned the priceless trade of flapjack flipping.
Though no questions appear on the New York State Earth Science Regents Exam about how long it takes to brown one side of a pancake before flipping it, the students of FFS are now able to cook breakfast with increased confidence.
