I love Laura Numeroff’s stories, and the kids do too! In her predictable, yet amusing pattern, the characters begin with one activity, which inevitably leads to another, then another, then another, till you’re right back where you started again. Whether it’s the mouse with the cookie, the pig with the pancake, the moose with the muffin, or one of their many friends, kids learn to expect the unexpected!
Bread Baking with Preschoolers
There’s something special about bread. It may be its universal nature, found in different forms all around the world. Ann Morris’ book, Bread, Bread, Bread takes a fantastic around the world photo journey examining bread throughout a variety of cultures. (It’s a great book I would strongly recommend as part of a food unit like the one I outline over here.)
Someone’s in the Kitchen with Dinah
This is a repost of one of the very first blog posts I wrote. Since there were only about three of you reading here back then, I thought it might be time to revisit!
Cake Mix Cookies. Better Than the Easy Bake Oven
Do you remember the Easy Bake Oven? You may even have an Easy Bake now, as they’ve been revived. One of the clinchers for the Easy Bake is the simple mix that allows a child to pour, stir, and create all on her own, and bake…well…less than savory delicacies. (Another downer, in addition to the finished product, is the fact that these refill mixes don’t come cheap.) Well, here’s a baking experience that’s just as easy, but a bit more authentic, and whole lot more palatable.
Set the Table – A Preschool Food Study
There’s something about November that just makes me hungry! Perhaps it’s the time-honored tradition of gluttony, and maybe it’s the fond association with childhood memories of loved ones around a table……or just around a kitchen counter. Food is not only essential for fueling our bodies, it is often a hallmark of culture and a centerpiece of celebration. This month I’ll be posting activities supporting a food theme to be implemented with preschoolers.
Objectives! You didn’t think I would post something without telling you why, did you? That would just go against everything I believe in! So here’s the nitty gritty. A food study provides plenty of opportunities for children to have cooking experiences, the benefits of which I have discussed here. They also learn about the origins of food, ie that lemonade comes from a lemon not a box, milk is produced by a cow, not a factory. There are plenty of opportunities to talk about choosing a variety of foods, trying new foosd, and the importance of healthy foods for our bodies. I also like to take the opportunity to talk about manners a bit and give them the chance to practice and pretend in a restaurant theme. Here are some of the activities I’ll be posting, and then linking back to this post.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread Recipe
As I’ve mentioned before, it’s a rare thing to find a snack that every child likes. While I hesitate to give a definite guarantee on this one, I don’t think I’ve had a child yet who has refused it!
Baked Doughnuts-Fit for a Parade
Ahh, doughnuts. Few treats get children so excited! I’m personally not a fan of deep fat frying. My body doesn’t react well to the smell and when I eat it much my stomach feels unsettled. That, and my hips and thighs swell in a strange sort of allergic reaction. At any rate, when I’m the cook at the wheel, I prefer this healthier recipe for baked doughnuts. If you want to, have your little chefs assist you through the entire recipe. It’s not too difficult, and those little hands always get a kick out of kneading and rolling. Observing first hand the effect of yeast is a science project in itself. And since these are baked, not fried, they’re not only healthier, but you also have a little less to worry about in the burn department. As another option, you can have the doughnuts ready, and just let the children help with the topping. Either way, this cooking activity is sure to excite your little ones as they personalize each doughnut. Turn it into a literacy activity by reading a good book like The Great Doughnut Parade beforehand, or while the dough rises!
Here’s the to-do and to-what list:
Caramel Popcorn….It's in the bag!
Photo by bgraphic.
Cooking is a great activity to do with kids! There are plenty of ways children can help with almost any recipe, but some recipes just lend themselves to increased interest and participation from your little culinary artists. This is one of them! Caramel popcorn… in a bag… in the microwave! It’s almost magical!
(*As with any recipe be sure to know the limits of your children and your facility’s policies for safety if applicable. Popcorn in particular may not be suitable for certain children or allowed in specific programs.)
Caramel Popcorn….It’s in the bag!
Photo by bgraphic.
Cooking is a great activity to do with kids! There are plenty of ways children can help with almost any recipe, but some recipes just lend themselves to increased interest and participation from your little culinary artists. This is one of them! Caramel popcorn… in a bag… in the microwave! It’s almost magical!
(*As with any recipe be sure to know the limits of your children and your facility’s policies for safety if applicable. Popcorn in particular may not be suitable for certain children or allowed in specific programs.)
Book Activity: Mmm, Cookies!
This fantastically fun read is by one of my favorite authors, Robert Munsch. He began as a storyteller who always knew how to get and keep a child’s attention, and was later convinced to put his stories into print. This silly tale follows a little boy through his mischief as he makes pretend cookies out of playdough and serves them to his unsuspecting family and friends. It’s sure to grab the interest young children as they join in the repetitive text and absorb the outrageous illustrations of the characters’ outlandish reactions to eating playdough.
Each time Christopher makes a new cookie, this book implements a fantastic use of onomatopoeia with a repetitive text that just begs for kids to join in. Here’s how I do it (words in italics from the text):