Today we are going to make yummy chocolate leaves! You can eat these leaves afterwards or use them to decorate so scrummy cupcakes! If you do this ensure you send one in my direction!
Whilst making these leaves you can see a little bit of science in action!
You will need:
Bowl
Saucepan
Rose Leaves
Clean paintbrush
Hot water
Chocolate (Dark chocolate works best!)
Method
Step 1: Go into the garden and pick some rose leaves (or ask Daddy to buy mummy some Roses and pick a few leaves off her bunch!)
Step 2: Get some of your favourite chocolate
How does the chocolate feel?
Would you describe it as a solid, a liquid or a gas?
Step 3: Put some hot water from the kettle in a saucepan (ask an adult for help) and put a clear glass/pyrex mixing bowl over the top. Add in the chocolate and stir
Dark chocolate works the best!
What is happening?
How does the chocolate look now?
What state would you describe it as? Solid, Liquid or gas?
Yummy…liquid chocolate!
Step 4: Once the liquid chocolate is all runny, get your adult to take the bowl off the heat and put it on a table. Get a clean paint brush and paint on the chocolate to the leaves!
What is happening now? Has the chocolate stayed liquid?
Step 5: Once the chocolate has cooled and set into a solid you can peel of the rose leaves, leaving behind the chocolate leaves, to either eat or decorate with! (I would put them in the fridge or freezer for a bit as warm fingers when peeling will melt the chocolate quite quickly!)
Use the leaves to decorate cakes or as a yummy treat!
The Science Bit
This experiment is a great way to demonstrate the process of changing state from Solid to liquid and back again.
Everything we know exists in three states: A solid, A liquid or a Gas!
Substances can change from one state to another by different processes.
SOLID ––> LIQUID = MELTING
LIQUID ––> GAS = EVAPORATING/BOILING
GAS ––> LIQUID = CONDENSING
LIQUID ––> SOLID = COOLING/FREEZING
When the chocolate was heated it changes from solid to liquid and that was an example of melting and when we move back from a liquid into a solid it is an example of cooling/freezing.
The reason this happens is because when you provide heat the particles that make up the solid are given energy which cause them to vibrate and then break the bonds holding them together. As they cool they lose this energy and so forms bonds again but not in the same shape…this is why we can mould chocolate and other substances!
Making krispie Cakes is another good way to show this!
would like to be a yummy mummy
September 15, 2011 at 9:17 amOooh they look yummy and Popppy would love to make them. Loving the idea of Daddy buying me roses too so maybe this weekend xx
HELEN
September 15, 2011 at 9:35 amwell now I know that cooking with chocolate is educational it would be wrong of me not to do it more! I’ve tried this with leaves, it is very fun to do…shame they’re gone in seconds though!
x
maggy, red ted art
September 15, 2011 at 4:28 pmOh – you can eat Rose Leaves??? Wow! How cool! And yes, I think many people forget how the kitchen is a great place to explore science… love the idea of chatting to my kids about science in this context! Thank you.
Maggy
ScienceSparks
September 15, 2011 at 8:59 pmI think you peel off the leaf…is that right Kerry? Emma x
maggy, red ted art
September 21, 2011 at 6:37 pmAh yes.. Kerry did say peel off the leaves! Doh!
Thank you for linking to kids get crafty!
Maggy
Jenni
September 17, 2011 at 8:45 amMy girls would really enjoy this! Thanks for a fun idea (and ways to add some learning too)!
Michelle
September 19, 2011 at 11:10 pmWhat a great project! Thanks so much for sharing it at Made by Little Hands Mondays!! I appreciate it!
Hope you are having a great Monday!
Michelle
http://www.delicateconstruction.blogspot.com
Oh- and I am a new follower!
Shannon
September 20, 2011 at 11:31 pmThis is such a precious idea!
I’d LOVE if you would link up to Mommy Club Tuesday Linky! (It shows up both on MilkandCuddles.com & Crystalandcomp.com!)
You can link up here: http://tinyurl.com/3h45jwb
Shannon
MilkandCuddles.com
Aimee
September 21, 2011 at 1:43 amWhat a fun way to incorporate food and science! Thank you for sharing this on The Sunday Showcase.
Crystal & Co
September 23, 2011 at 5:04 pmHow fun!
Thanks for linking up. I am going to share on Facebook too. 🙂
would like to be a yummy mummy
September 24, 2011 at 12:52 pmThanks for this, ours are in the fridge as we speak. Watch out for a post coming soon. Educational and fun 🙂 x
Ticia
September 25, 2011 at 12:47 pmThat looks very cool or I should say hot, since you’re boiling the water.
Jenny
September 26, 2011 at 2:12 amOh, what fun; we’ve just begun doing a chocolate unit so I’m adding this to our list of activities.