Build discriminating taste buds by offering a smorgasbord of differently flavored Oreos! (Plus, who among us doesn’t secretly want to try at least one of their rotating flavors?)

Inclusion: Library programming is designed to be fully inclusive. Age limits may be implemented in certain programs to ensure that program content fosters appropriate developmental markers.

Accessibility:

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Mode: In-person

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Staff Energy: Moderate

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Ages: 3-18

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Cost: Moderate

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Length: 45-60 min

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Ideal Attendance: 12

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STEAM Practices:

✓ Science (observation, taste)

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Tags: food, cookies, STEM, ages 3-18

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Credit: Kate Davis

Supplies:

(Commonly on-hand supplies are not included in cost breakdown.)

10 packages of Oreos in different flavors (~$5/package=$50)

10 paper plates

Napkins

Cups for water

Oreo Taste Test Guessing Sheet – one per kid and adult

Pencils

Tablecovering

White board

White board marker

Clipboards (optional)

Total Cost: $50

Instructions:

When kids come in, give each person a Guessing Sheet and a pencil.

Have them taste test each Oreo. Encourage them to use their senses — sight, taste, and smell — to determine the flavor. Use your best poker-face to keep the flavor a secret until everyone has finished testing.

Have kids write down their guess on the corresponding line of their Guessing Sheet.

When everyone is done, have them sit down for the big reveal!

Do the reveal and charting process package by package. Before revealing the flavor, ask the kids what they noticed about each one. (Bring over the remaining cookies on the plate if they need a sight/smell refresher.)

As you sum up the activity to participants, note the most liked/disliked flavors and any other interesting info that came out of the experiment!

Staff Know-How

Planning, Set Up & Facilitation

Just before the program, cover a long table (or two tables together) with a table covering.
Print out Guessing Sheets (one per person–include adults too!)
Print out signs with the numbers 1-10 and spread them out on the table.
One package at a time, cut Oreos into quarters (because no one needs to eat 10 full-sized Oreos!!) and put them on a plate.
Number that package and place the plate on the table with the corresponding number sign.
Repeat for all your packages.
On your whiteboard, create the following chart. As the kids guess each flavor, write its name in the corresponding spot. Have the kids raise their hands as to whether they liked, disliked, or felt indifferent about the flavor. (Such good charting practice for the kids!)

Pro-Tips

Offer extra Oreos to your staff. Or have them do the challenge as well!
Hide your packages of extra Oreos so kids (and caretakers!) won’t see them.
Have water cups ready (or point the kiddos to the drinking fountain if they need to cleanse their palette).
You can do fewer or more than 10 flavors of Oreos. I’ve found 10 flavors has the wow factor to pull people in, but isn’t overwhelming in terms of time or sugar. (The kids are only eating a quarter of each cookie.)