Teaching with food

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Home : 2003 : October : 15

Teaching with food
By Sue W.

I recently saw a website, either early childhood or kindergarten that had a whole alphabet of food to be used when introducing letters sounds; though I haven't used it, it really sounds like a good idea to involve the senses
with a for apple, w for watermelon, etc.
One food related activity that worked very well when teaching writing direction steps for a process was Apple Heads. I have used this with 1st through 3rd grade. When the process was complete first graders dictated the steps for a chart and 2nd and 3rd wrote their own.
We used an old apple peeler, the kind that mounts on the edge of a

table, adults positioned the apples and each child was delighted to see the long spiral of peel appear as they turned the crank. Some wanted to eat the peel, which was fine because the apples had been washed. Then we worked with a small group at a time, up to 8 kids around a table and "carved" the face with spoons; scoop out a hollow for each eye, scoop for the bottom of the nose, press the spoon to cut a slit for a mouth and for edge of eyelids (as the apple dries the slit widens and makes lips and eyelids. We shaped the cheeks. All the while kids nibbled up their scraps. Each child placed their apple on a paper towel with their name and we let them dry for a least a week. As they dry the face looks old and wrinkly. Be sure the kids know they will not be eating the head! It was fun because some
faces ended up looking like sweet old people and others were Halloween-type monsters. When kept in a dry environment they can last for years! The kids took home their written directions and some read them to share the process at home. One warning, be sure to start with unbursed apples or cut away the bruises or they will get moldy.