They are hearing words that describe the food, seeing changes to the composition of the food, as well as measuring out ingredients, as they add it together.
While wandering the halls of Whitby you're never really sure what you'll find, but it's really the most effective way to find what's happening at school.
After shooting photos of a Chinese New Year celebration, I bumped into Stepping Stones teacher Maureen Scordato in the hallway carrying a tray of mozzarella sticks. Curious to know what was happening, I followed her to class where students sampled the crunchy and chewy snack. And while on the surface, it might just seem like a treat, Maureen says there's much more to it than that:
Food tasting provides a sensory experience in the classroom for children. Young children learn through their senses, they taste, touch, smell and feel a fruit, vegetable or other various foods. They learn how foods grow and where they come from. It provides awareness of how these natural foods can be used to create other foods as opposed to just eating them raw.
While baking a food, they are also gaining knowledge of language, science and math from this experience. They are hearing words that describe the food, seeing changes to the composition of the food, as well as measuring out ingredients, as they add it together. It gives children the ability to see natural and healthy foods as delicious options.
Parents often tell teachers, that when children go to the grocery store they ask for pears or broccoli, versus the cookies. Giving children that sensory awareness empowers them to engage in new experiences on their own.
