Baking at Kindergarten

This morning we made a gluten-free and dairy-free brownie.  Children gathered around the table ready to work together, and the baking started. Some children chopping dates, others measuring the dry ingredients, some measuring the wet ingrediengts and others practising their egg cracking skills. Āe mārika - How about that! Everyone took a turn at mixing all of the ingredients together before setting the mixture our on a tray to bake. A very warming smell filled the kindergarten as the brownie cooked and children continued to ask if it was ready yet! Finally at lucnh time the brownie was ready and we each got to try a piece.

Why was this baking experience so significant to our learning and development?

Baking is a special experience to be involved in as it creates links between home and kindergarten for children. Being involved in a group activity like this encourages us to slow down and follow instructions, some time 2 or 3 at a time. It also encourages us to practise our hand eye co-ordiation as we use knives to cut up ingredients, measuring cups to measure quantities of ingredients and spoons to stir the mixture in a bowl. A fun experience enjoyed by all, expecially at tasting time!