Previously only older year levels were involved in the program, which teacher Teena Crestani said was used to enrich concepts already being taught in the classroom.
“It’s a lot more simplified, but they still get to take home recipes and read recipes so it bonds with literacy as well,” she said.
She explained the students made pancakes and pizzas in groups, which involved measuring ingredients and cutting them into fraction pieces.
“It’s bringing real life skills to them, so not only are they cooking but they’re learning pretty cool maths skills and having it hands-on,” she said.
“We decided to incorporate Year 2 into the kitchen garden program this year so we can incorporate hands-on maths skills.”
“If you can make it hands-on and a real life situation, they remember and learn more so it’s a win-win situation by doing it as far as the teacher goes.”
The program has proven a hit with the young students too, with many liking the new activities they have been doing.
“I like picking all the stuff and finding what they are ... we get to cook and I like cooking this stuff,” student Airlie Jackson said.
“My favourite part is looking at flowers because I can see bees in them sometimes,” fellow student Ahlea Sheean said.
Some of the class thought that other students should also be participating in kitchen garden programs.
“It’s because I get to see things grow ... so they don’t think food just grows everywhere,” student Sam Grech said.
Previously, younger year levels would have used sand play or similar measuring activities for the same measuring and literacy concepts.
Ms Crestani said the younger year levels were only in the kitchen on select occasions and not on a regular basis.
“It’s been really successful, so I think in the future we’ll actually look at extending it throughout the whole school so our junior school can get more time in the kitchen,” she said.
“We thought that this year we’ll try something new and see how it runs to see if we’re going to keep incorporating it for years on.”
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