Kitchen Literacy

Baking and cooking with children is one of the most valuable experiences in the classroom. Few other activities offer the variety that baking does: opportunities to explore math, science, and literacy concepts within the context of one lesson.

Grade Level: Preschool

Focus Skill: Print Concepts; reading left to right

Common Core State Standards:

Foundational Reading Skills
K.RF.1- Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print.
K.RF.1a - Follow words from left to right, top to bottom, and page by page.
K.RF.1 - Recognize that spoken words are represented in written language by specific sequences of letters.
K.RF.1c - Understand that words are separated by spaces in print.

We began our baking lesson by using several of the KidsSoup Baking Tool Matching Cards to create child-friendly rebus recipes for pumpkin cupcakes and vanilla frosting (see original recipe links below).

baking tools preschool and kindergarten activity and printables

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

Baking Tools Matching Cards (Available inside our KidsSoup Resource Library)

Here's a recipe sample for the vanilla frosting with suggestions for picture card placement and simplified language:

1 (picture card of cream cheese)
1 (picture card of measuring cup) (picture card of sugar)
1/8 teaspoon (picture card of measuring spoons) (picture card of salt)
1 teaspoon (picture card of measuring spoons) (picture card of vanilla extract)
1-1/2 cups (picture card of measuring cup) (picture card of whipping cream)
small (picture card of mixing bowl)
large (picture card of mixing bowl) (picture card of wooden spoon) or (electric beater.)

1. In the small (picture card of mixing bowl), beat (picture card of whipping cream) until it forms peaks.
2. In the large (picture card of mixing bowl), beat (picture card of cream cheese), (picture card of sugar), (picture card of salt), and (picture card of vanilla extract) until mixture is smooth.
3. Carefully fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture with a (picture card of wooden spoon).

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

We posted the recipe and gave each child a baking tool needed to complete a step. We read the recipe together, following the pictures and words from left to right and pausing at each baking tool. During the pause, the child with the target baking tool called out its name and matched the tool to the picture card on the recipe.

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

Later in the day we used the recipe to bake pumpkin cupcakes and make icing. The recipe was posted where children could see it clearly and access it while we were cooking. The children took turns reading the steps from left to right while pointing at each picture and word. They followed through with each instruction under the teacher's guidance.

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

Follow the links to make these pumpkin cupcakes with your class:

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

Mini Pumpkin Cupcakes from About.com Southern Cooking

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

Whipped Cream Cream Cheese Frosting from All Recipes.com

Login to our KidsSoup Resource Library member site to view all lots more baking and baker activities and resources:

Baker's Hat	Bakery Word Wall	Bakery Shopping List	Salt Dough Cookies and Baked Items
Preschool Activities: Media Root	Preschool Activities: Media Root	Preschool Activities: Media Root	Preschool Activities: Media Root