Can you believe it?
Here we are in the midst of the holiday season and things are speeding up.
Sometimes it feels like our kiddo's learning gets pushed to the back burner at this time of the year, but it’s so important to keep their learning active. Long periods not focused on what they have learned and are learning makes it hard for them to retain the information, especially if they have dyslexia or any other learning difference.
Here are ideas centered around the fun of baking holiday cookies which takes the fun of learning into life knowledge areas as it keeps what they’ve learned active and growing.
THE SCIENCE OF COOKIES
The science of cookies is both yummy and “Wow, so that’s how cookie dough becomes cookies in the oven? I didn’t realize all of that!”
This video brings all the steps happening in the oven from cookie dough to yummy cookie into view with simple explanation and art. It’s fun for every age. I enjoyed it.
This article adds to the info in the video. It goes into greater depth about exactly what is happening to that cookie in the oven. It gives you a lot of background info and will be perfect for your older kiddos.
Practicing reading and phonics –
When your dough is becoming cookies in the oven, you could use the above article for reading and phonics instruction. Have your kiddos mark the vowels, digraphs, blends and syllables, then read the article.The science -
Comparing and contrasting the information on the video with the article sets their new science knowledge more firmly in their brains.The next exploration into cooking science could be, “How does it get from raw ground beef to a hamburger on my bun?” or “How does is get from raw turkey to something we can’t WAIT to enjoy.” This exploration opens so much more science. 😊
We’ve done science and reading, let’s take cookie baking into math.
This recipe gives you both the standard and metric measurements for making the cookies.
This opens wonderful discussions and comparisons between the two.
Now let’s think Social Studies -
This recipe also opens comparison of cultures and countries. It’s from Great Britain, and the cookies are referred to both as biscuits and cookies for both countries. This opens the doors for learning about another culture, another country and how their customs are different from ours even though they are English speaking.
Have fun with these three. It’s been fun finding them for you.
I can’t wait to hear about your experiences. Feel free to send photos.
Enjoy your children’s bright-eyed eagerness as you make memories this Holiday season.
Contact me here with any questions and to share your holiday ideas. :)