The Kitchen : My go – to place for activities with kids

Surprised? Don’t be. There is so much in the kitchen that can be used as teaching aids. As a mom and a teacher, I used my kitchen to teach.

Many practical hands-on Science and Math activities can be conducted in the kitchen. (Teachers, you can carry some stuff to the class).

Baking is an activity which kids specially enjoy. I often spent a Saturday afternoon in the kitchen as we baked a chocolate cake. We sieved and measured flour and other ingredients. (Learning – measurement).

We pre-heated the oven at a certain temperature and then, baked the cake. (Learning – temperature). My son would be at first surprised. What made the cake rise? This and many more questions were answered as we bake.

Often, I asked my son to observe things which are common to us but not to the child. E.g. Boiling of water makes the lid on the vessel rattle. Why? Where did the steam come from? The concepts of evaporation and condensation can be taught through these simple everyday actions.

Water in its three forms can be so easily and practically observed as a child fills water in an ice-tray and sees it turn into ice after a short time.

A lot of vocabulary can also be taught as you go along with your work of baking/cooking and what not.

And last but not the least, the fact that most cooking needs following a recipe, precise measurement, attention and concentration is itself a learning.

Learning by doing means the learning is never forgotten as it is experienced and reflected upon. This is experiential learning.

I am sure your children and students will enjoy these activities.