Counting Cooks
Orange you so excited?
Did you ever stop to think about all the math that happens naturally when you count and cook with your children?
Here are a few tips to help you enjoy the embedded math practice in these special family moments.
- Read your recipes aloud (making sure to announce and emphasize numbers and quantities).
- Point out the measuring marks (numbers) on the tools that you use.
- Stir, chop and add.
- As your little sous chef lends a hand, provide some instructions using numbers. Some examples include:
–– “Stir the pot 12 times”
–– “Chop the banana into 4 pieces”
–– “Add in 7 chocolate chips”
–– “Put in two spoonfuls of jam”
Why Play This Way?
We want to help you notice & appreciate the simple, everyday learning that happens when you cook with your little ones. Children build understanding from meaningful experiences. Using food & cooking as a vehicle for counting exposure will signal the important role of math in everyday life. And, even though your little one may not yet understand what it means to set the oven to 350 degrees or to weigh 8 oz of chocolate, they will begin to recognize the connection between mathematics, food preparation & nourishment.
