Science Project

• The school-age kid learns by observation and experimentation that cooking is the process of combining a number of ingredients that interact with each other to create something entirely different. Simply heating food is not cooking; it is heating. The parent shares the recipe with the child, sets out the ingredients and allows the kid to examine each one. As you combine the ingredients, explain what effect each one has on the other as they are mixed together and how it will contribute to the finished product. For example, baking powder will make the biscuits rise and flour will thicken the gravy.
  
  

Math Project

• Teaching the child basic cooking math begins by requiring him to follow a recipe to the letter. He should count out the number of pepperoni slices to put on a pizza and learn to arrange them in a symmetrical pattern on top of it. The child also should learn the basic units of measurement involved in cooking, such as a teaspoon compared to a tablespoon. As the child gains experience, he will learn more about measurements and how to calculate changes in them to alter the quantity or to adjust the flavor to his taste.
  
  

Literacy Project

• Give the child ingredients for a very simple recipe using no more than five ingredients and only three to four steps. Prepare the recipe according to the instructions without the child present so there is a correctly prepared sample available. Next, place the ingredients on the counter and give the child a recipe that lists the ingredients and steps in random order. Ask the child to read the recipe carefully and rearrange it in the order she believes is correct. Have her prepare the recipe and compare it to the sample that was prepared properly. Point out the differences in quality between the two completed recipes to the child. The purpose of the project is to reinforce the necessity of reading the recipe and following it to the letter. Use a potato or rice dish to minimize cost. Have the child write the correct recipe down to improve her literacy skills and reinforce the necessity for following the recipe.
  
  

Practical Application

• The last step in a scientific project is practical application. As the child develops his skills, ask him to make cookies, cook a breakfast of pancakes and eggs and eventually progress to preparing a complete dinner. On a regular basis along the way, encourage him to experiment with his own recipe variations and present them to family members for their input. He can also begin to assemble a recipe file of favorites gleaned from recipe books as well as the recipes he creates himself.