Preschool Lesson Plan: Cooking Day Inspire Little Chefs
A preschool lesson plan for a cooking day in preschool should be a multisensory way of introducing the children to the joys of cooking and eating healthily. It is not about creating gourmet chefs but rather about exploring food, developing essential skills, and having fun in the process.
Grade Level: Preschool
Theme: Cooking Day
Duration: 1 hour
Topic: Preparing Simple Dishes from Different Cuisines
Key Learning Goals for Success
- Learners will get familiar with common ingredients in the different cuisines.
- Explanations of preparing simple dishes are explained and will be demonstrated to a student.
- This activity shall provide teamwork and cooperation among their peers.
Materials Required
- Ingredients for simple dishes, for instance, include bread, butter, vegetables, cheese, rice, herbs, etc.
- Utensils include bowls, plastic knives, spoons, and cutting boards.
- Aprons and gloves for children
- Pictures or flashcards of dishes from different cuisines
Procedure
Introduction (10 minutes)
- There will be a short discussion of different cuisines. Pictures showing dishes from various cultures will be presented.
- The ingredients and equipment to be used will be exposed and named accordingly. Children should identify those items with which they are familiar.
Main Activity (40 minutes)
- Step-by-Step Preparation
The teacher will demonstrate this preparation, while all the steps will be explained in passive voice. For example,
- “Bread is taken and placed on the board.”
- “Butter is spread over the bread.”
- “Vegetables are chopped and added above for topping.”
- “Cheese is sprinkled on top.”
Children will then be taken through the same steps under supervision.
2. Group Activity
- The children will be divided into small groups. Each child will prepare a simple dish comprising a sandwich, fruit salad, or rice bowl with whatever ingredients are available.
- Steps for each dish will be written on a chart and read out loud:
- “Peel and chop the fruits into small bits.”
- “Take the rice and mix it with herbs and vegetables.”
3. Discussion:
- Then, children will be asked to share what they liked about the activity and the dishes prepared.
Clean-up Time (10 minutes)
- Utensils used and work areas will be cleaned. Children will be urged to contribute to this process by wiping and putting utensils in order.
- Gloves and aprons will be collected and disposed of properly.
Assessment
- Observation of children’s participation in this activity.
- Identification of ingredients and their usage.
- Cooperation and teamwork during group activities.
Inspiring Further Explorations
- A “recipe card” with illustrations will be sent home for parents to try the activity with their children. The card will include step-by-step instructions, a list of ingredients, and simple tips for safe cooking with preschool-aged children. This will encourage family engagement and reinforce what was learned in class.
- The follow-up activity could be decorating a chef hat or apron. Kids will be provided with plain chef hats or aprons, fabric paints, markers, and stickers. This creative job will let them create their own things for cooking, thus helping to develop pride and interest in the cooking process.
- The following week will be a Cooking-themed story time. There will be various books read to the children about food and cooking. To give life to these stories, there will be mini cooking demonstrations; children will dramatize, playing with the themes of the stories.