Learning Math Skills through Food

Math is more than numbers.  Adding math into everyday activities can make it fun and more interesting for you and your children.  Food is something everyone can relate to and there are many math skills that can be taught through food experiences.  Children who enjoy themselves through discovery and experimentation are more likely to listen and retain information.  Food can be a fun way for children to learn and the possibilities are limitless.  Here are a few concepts to get you started:

• Counting
• Measuring
• Sequencing of Events
• An Understanding of Time
• Spatial Concepts
• Numbers
• Fractions
• Sorting
• Classifying
• Estimation
• Probability
• Statistics

Do you use food experiences in your classroom? Please share any additional ways you teach math concepts.  I like to use books to go along with any concepts I am teaching.  Visit your local library to find these or other books related to counting.

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.”

 

 

Gingerbread in a Cup – English & Spanish Recipe

Here’s a great activity to do in your center.  It is good to strengthen both science and math skills, plus gingerbread is always good around the holiday season.

Gingerbread in a Cup    

First Step:  Wash Hands/ Primer Paso:  Lavarse Las Manos

Supplies & Equipment  

• Wash basin sink or water filled spray bottle
• Soap
• Towels

Suggested Learning

• First step in sequence
• Always was hands before handling food.
• Wash well with soap and water to prevent the spread of germs, colds, and other illness.

Material y Equipo                                                           

• Lavabo a botella con agua
• Jabón
• Toallas

Puntos de aprendizaje     

• Primer paso en secuencia
• Siempre recordar lavarse las manos antes de preparar los alimentos
• Usar jabón y agua para prevenir el  desarrollo de bacteria, resfrios y otras  enfermedades

Second Step

Put mix in paper cup                                                       3 Tablespoons Ginger Bread Mix

TERCER PASO

3 cucharas de la mezcla de jengibre (polvo) poner en una taza de papel

 Supplies & Equipment                                               

• Bowl of gingerbread mix
• 3 measuring tablespoons
• Name-labeled 5 oz.paper cup for each child
• all above items on one tray with chart

 Suggested Learning

• three: numeral amount
• meaning of level
•  measuring
•  tablespoon
•  observe  color, feel, taste & smell

3 cucharadas de Jengibre

Material y equipo                                                          

• hoya con mezcla de jengibre
• 3 cucharas de medir
• nombre la taza de papel para cada niño

Sugerencias de aprendizaje       

• el numero tres
• significado de nivel
•    medir
•    Observar color, tacto, sabor & olfato

Third Step                     TERCER PASO

 1 Tablespoon                CUCHARADA

Water                               AGUA

Add to Cup                      AGREGUE  A LA TAZA        

Supplies & Equipment                                                        

• 1 measuring tablespoon with handle bent at right angle to the bowl of the spoon.
• This simplifies dipping up a spoonful of liquid.
• Small bowl of water.
• All above items on tray with recipe chart.

Suggested Learning

•  Vocabulary: liquid
• Observe, liquid levels itself.Material y equipo                                                               Sugerencias de aprendizaje
• Science:DO NOT TELL THE CHILDREN LET THEM DISCOVER THE SCIENTIFIC                                 PRINCIPLES THEMSELVES!
• Ask open ended questions to help them think about this                                           “Characteristic of liquids.”

Material y equipo

• 1 cucharada doblada en forma de cucharón. Esto hará más fácil agarrar el agua.
• Plato hondo con agua.

Sugerencias de aprendizaje              

• Vocabulario: liquido
• Ciencia:
• Observar, niveles de líquido.

NO LE SDIGA A LOS NINOS. DEJEN QUE ELLOS DESCUBRAN EL PRICIPIO SCIENTIFICO         ELLOS MISMOS!  Pregunte preguntas abiertas para ayúdales a Pensar sobre las características de los líquidos.

Fourth step                                                      Cuarto paso

Stir Well                                                           MESCLE  BIEN

BAKE: 400 15 MIN. OR ‘TILL DONE          AL  HORNO: 400 15 MIN. O HASTA QUE ESTE

 Supplies and Equipment                                                    

• Teaspoons for stirring
• Electric skillet
• As soon as the gingerbrread is well mixed the teacher places sup in preheated dry electric skillet.  Cover.  Teacher checks for doneness- When done springs back from touch.

Suggested Learning   

• Stir; mix(rising in cup)
• Observe:   color, feel , taste, smell
• As lid is removed during baking,  note Change in size  (rising in cup)

Material y Equipo                                                       Sugerencias de aprendizaje

• Cuchara para mezclar                                                   mezclar, menear
• Sartén eléctrico                                                               Observar:

Encuanto el jingebre este bien mezclado                                   Cambio en: color                                El adulto pondrá el vaso en el sartén pre-calentado                                      textura                   Cubra. El adulto tiene que chequear si esta listo.                                           sabor                              esta listo cuando oprima suavemente y se regresa.                                       olor                                                                                                                                          Cuando quite la tapadera                                                                                                                                  observe el cambio  En tamaño en                                                                                                                   la taza

                                                                                

Don’t Be Afraid of Math

We often think about nutrition and food, but have you ever thought of the link between it and math?  First do not be scared of the word “math”.  I am one of those people that when I hear the word I cringe with fear.  I have thought I am not good with math, so how can I teach children about math.  Well, there are many things that can help you fight your fear, so go ahead teach math using food. It is something familiar that can help you overcome the math phobia you may be feeling.   There are so many concepts that can be taught using food and nutrition.  Some concepts which can be included are:

• Numbers
• Counting
• Measuring
• Order
• Grouping
• Portions
• Patterns
• Graphing
• Percentages
• Geometry and Spatial Relations

So how can you teach these skills?  Using a simple recipe and food demonstration or hands-on activity to open young minds with new concepts.  Recipes can include numbers, counting, measuring, grouping and much more.  Yes all of this in one recipe.  One of my favorite activities is to have separate bowls of various fruits and then make a fruit salad.  You can talk about the shapes, colors, how many of each item to put in the recipe, the order to place the fruits, patterns and the list goes on.  Books are also a great way to teach young children about mathematical concepts.  Some of my favorites include:

One Little Seed by Elaine Greenstein – Age 1 and Up

Big Fat Hen / La gallina grande by Keith Baker

Each Orange Has Eight Slices: A Counting Book by Paul Giganti, Jr. and Donald Crews

Up, Down, and Around by Katherine Ayers and Nadine Bernard Westcott

Round is a Pancake by Joan Sullivan Baranski

Mr. Cookie Baker by Monica Wellington

In the garden: Who’s been here? by Lindsay Barrett George

Cook-a-doodle-doo! by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel

Click, Clack, Splish, Splash – A Counting Adventure