http://nurturestore.co.uk/kids-cookingWhat kids learn when baking
They learn that reading has purpose and that maths has practical applications, as they follow instructions and weigh out ingredients.
They learn to take precautions, wearing aprons and making sure the cake doesn’t stick to the tin.
They learn through domestic science that heat is a catalyst and matter can change state.
They learn team work and to take turns, as one person holds and the other stirs.
They learn to think for themselves,have an opinion and take risks. Who says you can’t add marshmallows if you want to?
They learn the application of fractions and fair shares. And that good things do come to those who wait.
How to make a counting cocktail
http://nurturestore.co.uk/preschool-maths-activties-number-recipes1. Talk about the fruits that would be great in a fruit cocktail and have the children write or draw a list of possible ingredients.
2. Go shopping or raid the fruit bowl to find your ingredients and wash, peel and chop the fruit into pieces.
3. Recipe time. Have the children create their own fruit cocktail recipe and write or draw them out on a recipe card.
You could use a 1, 2, 3 ,4, 5 recipe, where the children must pick one of some kind of fruit, two of another, three of another, and so on.
Or use an ‘Adds up to ten’ recipe, where the children can pick any combination of fruits they like so long as they total ten pieces all together.
If you’re interested in colours, you could make the rule that they need five different colours in their cocktail.
If you’re interested in letters you could require that all the fruits in the recipe start with a different sound.
4. Eat and enjoy your bowl full of numbers.