Lately our centre manager introduced us to this great new tool. It is the Apple peeler/corer/slicer!!
It was like magic! We placed the apple onto the three-pronged fork of the apple peeler. Then as we turned the handle it began coring the apple. The apple now is sliced but still connected, like an accordion.
The children found this tool very fascinating and so did the teachers. As we found it interesting and fun to use we made sure that we spoke to the children about the importance of the apple skin in providing our bodies with fibre. This is to say that technology could also have some 'side effects'!Despite the fact that we used technology for cooking with children, cooking itself is a great learning experience for children. It is interesting to note that cooking with children can teach children about Maths, Science and Language (Copley, 2000; Talay-Ongan & Ap, 2005). This is also greatly in line with Te Whāriki (Ministry of Education, 1996) which promotes ‘exploration’ with a variety of learning experiences that can be connected to the home environment. Arthur, Beecher, Death, Dockett & Farmer (2008) also encourage the use of real resources as it help children reflect on real life experiences.
Therefore, food technology is an important part of ECE daily program. As early childhood teachers it is our duty to provide children with these meaningful experiences.
Imagine 20 years from now when the child you are cooking with now, will remember you as a result of smelling some baking aromas that connected her/him back to their early years in the centre!
The apple corer looks interesting and your blog has created some great ideas that children in most centres would injoy. Its great seeing those little face so full of thought and wonder when experiencing people, places, things and events that they may otherwise not experience if it was for the dedication of teachers
ReplyDeleteHi Rana.... That's a great tool. I wanna try as well. Cooking is a good activity to engage in with children. They can learn well-behaved like turn-taking, sharing and waiting with patience. They also can learn math conceptions like meauring, size, colours and shapes.
ReplyDeleteYes ,cooking is fun experience for children,and more fun when they get to eat what they cook.The new tool is amazing and it will give children an opportynity to be part of fruit preparation for their morning tea.Also it is a boost for those who refuse to eat apple.Of course there are various learning material in this,such as science exploring, maths,social interaction,language development and join five plus a day.
ReplyDeleteWow! I want that gadget in our centre.I think it is amazing.I myself have not seen one of those and I can imagine the face of the little ones if they see one in our centre. We are still using the old chopping board and a knife that is not so sharp for children not to cut their hands.I think cooking should always be a part of the ECE programme although I remember that we did some cooking when I was in the primary school.We used to roast grounded wheat in a slow heat then we add skim milk powder and sugar then set it cool then we eat that in school.
ReplyDeleteWow!a great tool Rana! I don't know about my Centre having one, but I'm sure every women, like myself, would like to have one in there own kitchen,but its not about us, its about the children. I have to wonder what the children thought it was before you showed them I'm sure you got some interesting answers!Great learning for the children I felt like I was there learning and using this cool gadget!I must say Rana, I was wondering what this tool was? so I'm so grateful for your story, so what a good learning for me and I'm sure other who hasn't seen this cool gadget.
ReplyDeleteThe apple corer is a great tool for children to learn about food technology. Good reflection. Does your centre often have cooking activities with children?
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