Providing
young children with hands-on cooking opportunities make an already fun activity
into a deep learning experience. It is a basic life skill that fosters
competence and independence. Cooking projects are a great way to incorporate
several learning concepts. It can help build children’s vocabulary, reasoning
ability, and learn cause and effect.
Here
we see Audrey as she eagerly prepares Irish Potatoes. When Audrey helps out with
cooking, she is learning and practicing social skills as well as mathematical, scientific,
and literacy concepts.
Math skills
are always a part of the process of cooking since counting and measuring are
included in the recipe. Using different types of measurement devices gives Audrey
the chance to practice the skill of measurement and builds for understanding
concepts such as fractions. Science concepts
are also part of cooking experience. Chemistry comes into play as Audrey discovers
how things change if you alter the environment. For instance, combining powdery
and liquid ingredients becomes eatable dough. Fine Motor Development and hand-eye
coordination are strengthen as she uses the cooking tools and rolls the
dough into small sized balls...and teaches sequencing. Sensory Experience is provided when she smells the ingredients and tastes the ending result. Literacy and following directions skills are promoted through the practice of
reading picture clues and following the steps. And, Audrey is also learning Social skills as preparing and eating
foods together takes cooperation.
