I am finding that cooking is fascinating that people can learn so much through preparing food. I was so involved in the process this time that I only took one picture. I had a brainstorm during this event, that we could also have cooking journals. With the readings we have been doing that discuss art, creativity, and journals, the idea popped into my head. This will allow them to be creative, express themselves through drawing, and communicate their ideas with me. So I think next week we will start this.
Thinking about the Chex Mix recipe, I think that could be accomplished in a classroom. It does involve peanut butter and with allergies these days, I don't recommend that. You may omit the peanut butter and use just the chocolate. The chocolate took one minute to melt in the microwave. Not very long at all but you do need access to a microwave. If you don't have access to a microwave then just plain Chex Mix will do. Each student can even have the opportunity to bring an item in to add to the mix. As long as they participate in putting ingredients together and work on math skills that would be satisfactory.
Frozen bananas will be difficult to make in a classroom, however, students could make their own fruit kabobs. With this activity they will be slicing fruit and place each piece on a skewer so you are still able to discuss fractions. Taking fruit on and off the skewer they will be making different fractions. Then when they are finished they can eat it!
I am enjoying the project so far. I am learning a lot about cooking and all the skills that can be learned. I am learning how much information children retain when working with items hands-on. The readings make me realize how important it is to ask questions and let the children be creative, draw, and express their thinking so we know what they are learning.
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| Fourths cut into halves. |
What a wonderful idea to create cooking journals! What a wonderful way to connect what we have been learning in class to your project. I think the children you work with would really be able to show a lot of their knowledge through this process. Are you ever going to "test" the children on the ideas you have been talking about through their cooking experiences?
ReplyDeleteIs almond butter an acceptable alternative when children have peanut allergies? I imagine there are substitutes. Were their any other comments about "halves?" I really like the idea of cooking journals. They could include drawings, recipes, notes, etc.
ReplyDeleteI am excited about the journals. We startd them today. Danielle, I don't exactly have to "test" them because everyday there is discussion about the things we have already learned. After talking about how to make ketchup, every time we eat something with a tomato sauce the children explain that it's made with tomatoes and tell me the process and other fun facts they remember. It's great listening to them.
ReplyDeleteShannan,yes almond butter would be an acceptable alternative. I thought about that last night. There are many varieties out now so whatever works for the specific classroom. During the banana lesson there were no other comments about halves. I thought they didn't understand what I was talking about until yesterday. I asked about cutting toast in half and M responded that I would have two pieces. Today in our journals they drew a picture of a banana and a line through it to show half. They remembered how pieces you get. They even remembered fourths. My son added, "If you cut the banana into threes you get three. What is that called?" So we discussed thirds. They remembered from Saturday, I was impressed. At lunch I only had one string cheese. I asked the kids how they could share it. Voila! Cut it into thirds!
I like your idea about teaching fractions with a frozen banana! When my niece was having difficulty with learning fractions, I bought one of the pizza Lunchables and I had her make the pizzas and then we cut them into fractions and discussed. She loved it and caught on quickly!
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