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Rose 3 Learning Experience: Cooking Capers

"Learning Experience" activities and suggestions that will empower and enable you as educators to support multicultural education using the principles laid out in the new ELYF Framework.

Please find below free valuable, insightful and practical ways that multiculturalism may be brought into your early years learning environment on a daily basis using the "Early Years Learning Framework" (EYLF). 

Each article includes:

• Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) Outcomes
• Key Learning Area Links
• Extension Ideas
• Equipment required
• Instructions
• Global Kids Oz Linked Resources

 All articles on this page have been kindly created and modified specifically for Global Kids Oz use by Rebecca Perkins of Rose 3 Learning Experience, all articles are subject to full copywright guidelines and may only be used within a classroom environment and not to be used for any other article content for any other reason, permission to copy or use this content for anything other than a EYLF setting must be approved in writing by Rebecca Perkins of Rose 3 Learning Experience. To access more learning experiences supporting the full ELYF program please contact Rebecca directly on 0402 284 581 or go to her website www.rose3.com.au

Objective: For children to develop their understanding of measurement, nutrition and cooking as an important part of their lives.

Materials

A “Child-friendly” Recipe, (See listed recipes.) and ingredients.

Measuring equipment: Cup, 1/2 cup, 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup.Tablespoon, teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon, 1/4 teaspoon. Scales

Cooking Equipment: Bowl, spoons, mixing spoons, sieve, forks, baking trays.  Exact equipment required depends on recipe chosen.

Stove, Oven or microwave. (depending on recipe)

*Remember all hygiene and safety precautions should be taken when cooking with children. 

Instructions:  Choose a recipe that fits the age group, environment, observations and program. (For example it is one of the children’s birthdays so cook a cake, a special visitor is coming: cook some biscuits or the children are discussing a particular culture: cook a dish from that culture.) 

Discuss food hygiene (washing hands, not licking fingers while cooking etc) Also discuss cooking safety (beware hot cooking implements or food, correct storage of food to keep it healthy to eat.)                                                                        Also discuss healthy and treat foods.   When it is OK to have a piece of birthday cake as a treat but should make yummy healthy choices for everyday

Early Years Learning Framework Outcomes

Outcome 1: Children develop

· knowledge and self-confidence through practicing measuring skills and increasing cooking and food  vocabulary.

Outcome 2: Children develop

· sense of belonging to a group through shared activity, discussing social conventions.

· understanding of diversity through discussing and experiencing food and traditions of different culture.

Outcome 3:Children develop

· social and emotional wellbeing through shared goals, taking turns and sharing social and life events.

Outcome 4: Children develop

· cooperation, confidence and curiosity through creating through food. 

· skills and processes such as problem solving, hypothesising, investigating measurement and cooking skills.

· ability to transfer and adapt learning through the use of different media, like recipe ingredients.

· ability to resource their learning, connecting with natural materials like raw and cooked food.

Outcome 5: Children

· interact verbally and non-verbally with others by discussing recipes, cooking and results. 

Key Learning Areas Skills and Knowledge

Pre-Numeracy (Mathematics)

Measurement—Volume. Counting—How many cups, teaspoons required?  How many biscuits did we make?  Estimation and prediction: How many can we make?  Do we have enough mixture to fill all the tins?                      

Mathematical Language—Many, more, Add one more scoop.

Literacy/Vocabulary (English) Scoop, pour, fill, full, half, empty, measure, tip, mix, knead, roll, stir, cook, fry, bake

Health and Physical Education: Fine Motor Skill: pouring, mixing, chopping, tactile experience (kneading)

Studies of Society and Environment  Cooking and eating meals makes up key social and family life experiences.  Food and cooking also makes up a large part of different cultures and cultural identity.   

Discuss social conventions and etiquette of table manners.

Science The science of cooking such as self raising flour rising, food browning as it cooks. Growing food with the children for cooking or looking at where different foods come from.  Healthy diet and eating habits.

The Arts Cooking decoration and presentation.

Linking Experiences

Tubes, funnels and bottles   Multicultural experiences

Pipes and tubes. Scoops, cups and buckets        

Extension Ideas

 Discuss healthy eating habits, introduce the healthy food pyramid. Focus on different cultures through food. If any families have unique cultural backgrounds focus on these cultures.  Discuss how food and cooking features in celebrations Christmas, Easter, Birthdays.