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Cooking Up Some Fun
by Kristenea M. LaVelle (Kristenea's bio)
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Here is an interesting look at hands on learning that is sure to be a hit with the kids…cooking. Cooking plays an important part in our everyday lives. In fact, a good deal of our social lives center around cooking and food. For example, this Thanksgiving, in homes all across the nation, family and friends alike will gather in the kitchen where they can chat over the latest news while the cook puts the finishing touches on a home cooked meal. This is the heritage that has been handed down from generation to generation, but what does this have to do with homeschooling? It's simple. Cooking is not only a tradition, but it is an important life skill that doubles as a fun, hands on learning activity. So why not get your children involved and have a little fun in the process.Take a look at what learning to cook can do for your kids:
- It's hands on learning that promotes organizational skills and time management.
- It encourages reading, problem solving and eye hand coordination.
- It encourages skills in mathematics such as fractions, measuring, time and temperature.
- It provides an opportunity to tech about foods, from the four basic food groups to the difference between fats, carbohydrates and proteins.
- It helps to builds self-esteem and encourages an attitude of service.
- Take a calendar and choose a day that will fit into everyone's schedule, and then allow the children to begin planning a menu for that day. Help them to choose simple recipes at first and they can work up from there. This can be done as a group project or on an individual basis (for example: one day set aside for each child to plan the menu and cook). Use this time to teach them about the four basic food groups and to quiz them about the foods in each group. Show them how to plan a balanced meal, and to choose from the things you have on hand. If needed, show them how to make a list for the store and then let them help you shop for the supplies you will need.
- Read and review the recipes and make sure the child understands all the cooking techniques that will be used in the recipe. Ask questions and give them time to ask you any questions they have about the meals. It may even help to make a "dry run" through the kitchen just to familiarize them with cooking tools and procedures.
- Go to it! And remember to have fun. You can spend all day training your children to enjoy cooking and have fun in the process.
- Remember to have your children clean up their messes in the kitchen. This will help train them to be tidy cookers.
- When engaging the older children in the kitchen, you can incorporate the younger children by letting them sit at the table and cut food pictures out of a magazine. Give them a paper plate to glue them on and use this time to quiz them about the four food groups. It can be a fun learning experience for the entire family.
Soon, you will have experienced chefs on your crew and you will be able to sit back and enjoy the "fruits" of your labor. Bon Apetite!
Copyright 2001, Kristenea M. LaVelle. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
| About Kristenea M. LaVelle: I am a wife of 10 years and a homeschooling mother of five dedicated to teaching and living the truth of Jesus Christ. David and I make our home in Spokane, Washington where we can serve our family and friends with the love of Christ. It was through His direction that I began writing and found myself on a fascinating new journey in life. Now my joy is made complete by writing for Him and about Him. E-mail Kristenea |
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