|
Cooking is a great educational experience. Teachers at The Boyd School understand the educational benefits of cooking in the classroom.
Deana Hildebrand, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension nutrition Specialist states, “cooking |
Hildebrand continues by pointing out that “Three-year-olds are really learning how to use their hands, so ask them to help pour liquids from measuring cups into bowls, pat brown sugar in the measuring cup, spoon flour out of the bag, spread butter or other |
|
allows children to us all five of their senses. Using descriptive words to talk about what you see, feel, hear, smell and taste can help expand a child’s vocabulary,” Hildebrand said. She recommends that parents and teachers “talk to children about the colors of foods, especially colorful fruits and vegetables.” She also points out that “foods often have different textures, so be sure to talk about foods that are bumpy, soft, hard and squishy.”
Children of any age benefit from cooking. By engaging children in age appropriate tasks, children feel successful. Cooking also provides children the opportunity to develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Hildebrand states that “Two year-olds can scrub potatoes and vegetables, wash and tear lettuce, break bread into pieces, stir thin liquids such as pancake batters and gelatins, shake a drink in a closed container, clean the cutting board and put waste in the garbage after cooking to name but a few. “ |
spreads, knead dough and peel bananas,” she said. “Juice citrus fruits, peel hard boiled eggs or onions, cut soft foods with a plastic knife, measure dry ingredients, press cookie cutters into dough and set and clear the table are skills geared toward four and five-year-olds.”
Measuring and counting helps develop math skills. In addition, cooking gives children first-hand experience at watching foods change.
“One of the greatest benefits of cooking with children is increasing their interest in trying new foods,” Hildebrand claims. “They’re more likely to try new things if they’ve helped prepare them.” As evident from the photographs of the Broadlands’ Lower Elementary students enjoying fondue.
Portions of this article obtained from
The Grove Sun
|
Book Review
by Connor Sturgis
Herndon Kindergarten Student
I recommend Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown. The book is about a boy that is flat. A bulletan board falls on him during the night. His adventures were funny. Stanley is able to slide through doors air vents and rocks.
Jeff Brown created Stanley Lambchop, aka “Flat” Stanley for his sons. Stanley’s first adventure as reviewed above was published in 1964. Stanley and the rest of the Lambchop family are now featured in numerous adventures. For more information:
www.flatstanleybooks.com
page 6 ---> |