Everyday activities that teach
June 28th 2009 18:08
I have noticed that toomany people thinkthat teaching children concepts involves sitting them down with a workbook, worksheet or something that from their memories of school resemble class work. today there are even many software products claiming to "teach"children skills that will make them successful in school. Our society equates school success with life success. As a teacher of young children one of my favorite activities in the classroom was cooking with the children. Given the right tools preschooland kindergarten children can preapre snacks andother foods quite successfully. As a kindergarten teacher my favorite resource for cooking activities was a small book called [U]CUp Cooking. This inexpensive book was hard to find for a while but is now available again. I would check Amazon for the book. It should not cost more than $5.00. Ijust checked the Amazon website which showed that the book is available. I thinkt he price is a typ-o since it said it could cost as much as $322.24 or something silly like that. Anyway, it also showed copies available for about $6.00
While there are other cookbooks designed for use by children this one is the best for pre-readers because the recipes are pictures and each child goes through each step and ends up with one child size serving. I think I have used every recipe in the little paperback book with children 5 years old and younger. Investing in the tools identified in the book such and those very inexpensive metal measuring spoons so that when you create the recipe cards you have enough spoons to lay out one spoon on each picture. The hands on experience with these recipes teaches a child - left to right progression; math concepts of fractions, the difference between a tablespoon, teaspoon etc., numeral recognition, and hand eye coordination to name a few. They can also learn to clean up after themselves. Creating their snacks they are more likely to eat what they have prepared for themselves. The back of the book tells you how to convert other recipes that you might have sothat children can create even more snacks for themselves.
Every time I had a cooking experience in my classroom I would invite parents in to particpate. Parents were alwasy amazed at how capable the children were in handling the tools. Look into to cooking with your children. It will become a fun experience for the whole family.
Parents are the child's first teacher. Know that this is just one of the activities that you can easily do at home with your children that will help them learn many skills just by participating in the activity. If you are aware of other resources for great food experiences for children please share them.
While there are other cookbooks designed for use by children this one is the best for pre-readers because the recipes are pictures and each child goes through each step and ends up with one child size serving. I think I have used every recipe in the little paperback book with children 5 years old and younger. Investing in the tools identified in the book such and those very inexpensive metal measuring spoons so that when you create the recipe cards you have enough spoons to lay out one spoon on each picture. The hands on experience with these recipes teaches a child - left to right progression; math concepts of fractions, the difference between a tablespoon, teaspoon etc., numeral recognition, and hand eye coordination to name a few. They can also learn to clean up after themselves. Creating their snacks they are more likely to eat what they have prepared for themselves. The back of the book tells you how to convert other recipes that you might have sothat children can create even more snacks for themselves.
Every time I had a cooking experience in my classroom I would invite parents in to particpate. Parents were alwasy amazed at how capable the children were in handling the tools. Look into to cooking with your children. It will become a fun experience for the whole family.
Parents are the child's first teacher. Know that this is just one of the activities that you can easily do at home with your children that will help them learn many skills just by participating in the activity. If you are aware of other resources for great food experiences for children please share them.
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