Baking & Bytes, Grades 2-5
Title: Kids' Bread Restaurant
Description: The theme of
baking bread permeates the curriculum as young students use computers as
tools to research, write, organize, advertise, and graph.
Hardware and Software: Computer(s),
printer, word processing software, data base software, drawing programs,
easy graphing software, encyclopedias on disk or CD-ROM (optional)
Other Needs: art supplies,
ingredients for making bread, 2 bread making machines, microwave ovens,
chef's hat, aprons
Time Required: Varies, according
to the number of activities used. This project could develop into a year-long
project.
Objectives:
- To teach concepts in math, science, social studies, art,
language, and communication through the process of baking bread
- To use technology as a tool for learning
- To have students work together on a special project
Procedures:
Using two automatic bread makers, have the children bake
and freeze enough loaves of bread to open a restaurant/bakery for one day.
Some of the types of bread which may be baked include: white, whole wheat,
cheese, and raisin-cinnamon. During the days when the aroma of baking bread
fills the classroom, many activities related to bread may be completed.
Some of these activities follow:
- Each child takes one ingredient and does a report on
the ingredient. If electronic encyclopedias are available, these are used
along with traditional references. The reports are word processed and illustrations
are added by hand, through scanning, and with clip art. These reports are
put on the walls in the classroom or in the hall as decorations for the
restaurant.
- Each child completes a bread-loafed shaped creative writing
exercise called, "Why Kids' Bread is Special."
- Children work together to create tissue paper flowers
with green leaves put in vases at the restaurant, make tablecloths out
of bulletin board paper, and create computer-generated placemats.
- Children make lists of adjectives which describe the
aroma and taste of their bread products. These lists are put on posters
around the school.
- Children use crumbs from failed loaves to feed the birds
outside theirroom. They make a computer file of what birds come to eat
their bread and what breads the birds prefer.
- Children put ingredients into a data base. Fields may
include: name of ingredient, type of bread, amount used, who donated the
ingredient, where the ingredient comes from, etc.
- Children word process and duplicate recipe books which
are made available at a very special rate (in other words, free to parents).
- Children create recipe charts and menus.
- Children make tickets for other children and teachers
to purchase bread the restaurant.
- Children write invitations to other classes to attend
the Grand Opening of Kids' Bread Restaurant.
- The class makes sure the aroma of baking bread fills
the school.
- Children do surveys of teachers and students in the school
to collect information in order to project sales. The information is used
to create simple graphs of projected sales. The sales projections are posted
in the classroom/restaurant.
- Children practice making change in order to run their
restaurant.
- The class discusses what to do with profits from the
restaurant/bakery bread sales. (Usually the profits are given to a local
non-profit organization.)
- Children check their inventory and keep track of it on
the classroom
- Schedules are arranged, printed, and distributed so that
other classes the school will know when they are invited to visit the restaurant/bakery.
- The class uses the computer(s) to write letters to newspaper
reporters and television newscasters. The letters invite the reporters
and newscasters to the Grand Opening.
- Jobs at the restaurant are assigned on a rotating basis.
These include host/hostess, servers (wearing aprons), sign board wearers,
chef (chef's hat is borrowed from a local restaurant), ticket and money
handlers, public relations specialist (talks to press), etc. Each student
is given an opportunity to practice and carry out each position in the
restaurant.
- After the Grand Opening, the children make graphs of
actual sales and compare actual sales to projected sales.
- Children count the money earned at the Grand Opening
and compare to the expenses for the restaurant/bakery opening. They make
a decision about what to do with their profits.
On the day of the Grand Opening, the frozen bread is thawed
in Microwave ovens, a ticket counter is set up outside the classroom, and
drinks and bread toppings are brought in. A serving line is created. In
the line, along with the bread, drinks, and toppings, are napkins and small
plates. Guests purchase tickets ($.25 each) for the type(s) of bread they
will order. Hosts and hostesses seat the guests. Guests follow a cafeteria-style
serving line, hand in their tickets, and receive the food and drinks of
their choice. Visitors sit at classroom desks which have been converted
into restaurant tables. The servers help them with their food, ask if everything
is all right, and clear the tables. If tips are left, the tips go into
the treasury.
The chef and the public relations specialist show the
reporters, newscasters, and other celebrities who attend the Grand Opening
the reports and graphs and explain the details of the project.
After the restaurant closes, the children and volunteer
parents clean up and close down Kids' Bread Restaurant.
Follow-up/Extensions: There
are many other activities which might be completed using bread as a theme.
In fact, an entire curriculum could be created focusing upon bread. Children
learn fractions by cutting bread slices and cutting slices into pieces.
They learn about science (what makes bread rise, how wheat is grown, ingredients
in bread, etc.), social studies (where ingredients come from, what different
types of bread are eaten all over the world), and manners (how to welcome
people to the restaurant, eating manners, etc.).
Adaptions: Although this lesson
was developed for primary level students, it would be valuable for older
students also.
Suggestions for Parents: This
lesson is actually taken from a home activity and transferred to use in
school. Parents might use all sorts of baking experiences and food preparation
experiences to expand their children's knowledge of many subjects in the
curriculum. Cutting oranges and bananas provides a background for fractional
parts and locating where these fruits came from can be an experience in
geography. Watching bread rise at home and talking about why this happens
can become a great teaching moment. Letting children plan nutritious meals
for their lunches, having them help you read supermarket labels, and looking
up food and nutrition sites on the WWW will not only help them with organization,
reading, and research skills, but will be good for their health, too.
Submitted by:
Sara Alice Tucker
Grade 4 Teacher
Cornelia, Georgia
Lesson Plan Disclaimer
