Can Children Learn Science through Food Activities? Absolutely!

In previous posts, we discussed ways to add nutrition education into various areas of the curriculum.  So what does science have to do with food?  Let’s explore ways we can merge science into food experiences.  I hope that you will share some of your ideas too.

Science Skills Learned through Food Experiences

• Cause & Effect
• Chemistry
• Temperature
• Testing Hypothesis
• Physical Properties of Food
• Investigating the Origins of Food
• Life Science (growing foods in the garden)
• Changing Forms – liquids, gases, solids
• Predictions & Observations

Food experiences can inspire children’s curiosity, thinking and problem solving, which offers opportunities to make predictions and observations.   Some experiences you plan can stimulate all the senses.  Ask questions, let the children make hypothesis on how a product may change, discuss temperatures of foods cooked and uncooked, put an item in a blender discuss what it looks like before it is blended – let children discuss how it might change, blend food item and discuss the final state of the food.  There are so many possibilities to incorporate science learning into food experiences.

Turnip (can use other foods)

• Show a turnip seed packet & seeds.  (many children may not have ever seen a turnip)
• Show a turnip from its raw state, then show a peeled turnip.  (ask children have they eaten a turnip before)
• Pass the turnip around for the children to feel & smell. (encourage discussion)
• Provide a uncooked sample & a cooked sample. (ask children how they think it will change when you cook the turnip)
• Discuss the differences in the uncooked & cooked turnip.
• To extend the lesson, have a farmer or home gardener come to talk with class about growing food.
• Have children plant a seed and make predictions on what will happen with it.  As the plant grows it will provide additional opportunities for discussion and learning.
• Another food item to use is potatoes, many children have only seen them as french fries.  Of course, the possibilities are unlimited on fruits and vegetables.
• Read & have an activity for “The Great Big Enormous Turnip” by Anna Award or “The Enormous Potato” by Aubrey Davis. I will post an activity on my next blog.

Apple Slice Science

https://www.education.com/activity/article/Apple_Slice_Science/

Learning Through Food Experiences

Nutrition and food related activities can be utilized throughout your center in every area. So why should you use food experiences?  Children learn about math, science, language, social studies, food literacy, socio-emotional skills, art skills, pre-reading and beginning reading skills, nutrition and sensory-motor skills. Have you ever thought of how this is done through food experiences?  Once you know why it is important you can apply learning activities to develop each area.  Share with your parents and encourage them to get their “Kids in the Kitchen.”

 

 

More Science through Plants

Carrot Top Garden – Sprouting Carrot Tops with Children

Carrots tops are one of the easiest plants to grow and requires no special equipment.  Children can see results in a matter of days, which is exciting for them.

Cut the tops off of three or four carrots.  Have your children place them in a shallow dish and water them daily.  The carrot tops should be sitting in at least 1/4 inch water at all times.  Sit back and watch the carrot tops sprout new green foliage.  This provides an excellent opportunity for questions and answers:

• What do they think will happen with they put the carrot in the water?
• How does it look a few days later?
• When it sprouts conversations on the process of growing and how things grow
• Encourage the children to talk about the changes of the plant
• Draw pictures
• Guess what is next

There is so much you can do with this activity.  Be creative.  While it is growing you can read some books and conduct nutrition activities using carrots. It is amazing that most children only know the baby carrots that are already cleaned and ready to eat.  May have not seen a carrot before all the processing.  See the next blog for some more ideas.

Growing Carrot Tops

 

 

 

Being Thankful

November is a month that we often reflect and think about the many reasons we have to be thankful.  This month has been very hectic and I am thankful for those of you that have remained loyal to this blog.  You have one of the most important jobs in the world, working with children, and I am thankful for all of you that have chosen this profession.  How do children learn about being thankful, what types of activities can we incorporate to encourage thankfulness, and how can we be thankful each day?

Today we are going to explore some books focusing on the Thanksgiving season.

*  The Littlest Pilgrim by Brandi Dougherty

*  Little Critter: Just So Thankful by Mercer Mayer

*  The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing

*  ‘Twas The Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey

*  Thanks for Thanksgiving (2004)by Julie Markes

*  One Is a Feast for Mouse: A Thanksgiving Tale by Judy Cox

*  Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano

*  The Best Thanksgiving Ever! by Teddy Slater

*  One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims by B. G. Hennessy

*  The Very First Thanksgiving Day by Rhonda Gowler Greene

*  This Is the Turkey by Abby Levine

*  Thank You, Thanksgiving by David Milgrim

Start with a book and open a new world for a child.  Please feel to share any other books that you have found helpful in working on any units on Thankfulness.  Enjoy the holiday season and thank you for working with children.