One of my favorite things about teaching 5th grade was teaching fractions, and the opportunity it provided to cook* in the classroom.
*OK, so here I’m just talking about mixing and measuring…but I have used an oven in the past for both cookies and Chex Mix.
After all, I’m honest with my kids, and have been known to respond to the question, “When will we ever need to use this?” by saying, “Well, you probably won’t.”
But fractions? Well, if you are a cook, if you bake, or if you have ever even LOOKED at a recipe, much less tried to double or triple one, then you know the importance of fractions.
And so, we make trail mix. First we look at the recipe and add all of the ingredients together, divide them to make potential servings, and multiply to figure out how to feed a whole class with a recipe intended for six people.
And then I have the leftovers in my snack drawer (er…I mean…filing cabinet?) for ages….and can’t….stop….eating….them…..Classroom Crunch
(I usually change the name based on the time of year when we begin the activity. This year it was Cupid’s Crunch, although we didn’t make it until this week due to scheduling whatnot. But that’s why all the chocolate pieces are red…I bought them from the bulk bins at Sprouts.)
1/4 cup roasted, unsalted almonds
1/2 cup pepitas or sunflower seeds, salted
1/4 cup walnuts
1/4 cup hazelnuts (filberts)
2/3 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries (preferably orange flavored)
1/3 cup candy-coated chocolate^
3/4 cup flake or Os cereal*
^also known as M&Ms–if you want to get crazy with the particular flavor of these, by all means…get crazy
*Special K Vanilla Almond or Honey Nut Cheerios are always delicious
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
We had to take two college level math course while in culinary school! I hated math in high school and got the lowest scores imaginable on the SAT in math (although I excelled in the English portion!). Anyhow, it totally made sense once I was in culinary school! I got nearly straight "A's" on all of my test! So obviously, you a grade A teacher, in addition to a tasty one.
You would have been favorite teacher.
I love that you use food to teach.
what a fun idea! practical application helps it stick!
I love that you are a teacher…seriously, your kids are so lucky and THANK YOU…most impotant job.
HOWEVER….I snagged that video of you in my Google reader and …girl? Stop what you are doing. Please listen to me now…I'll wait…Do I have your attention? I am serious. You are so talented…PLEASE consider sending you video somewhere if you ever have considered that it may be cool to have your own cooking show. PLEASE. That is a very credible option for you. You are brilliant, photogenic, eloquent, a master in the kitchen, hilarious, smart….I can wax poetic.
Cheers to you *holding spoonful of something up because I live alone too*.
That was amazing and it just might be a calling.
SERIOUSLY!
impotant job…lol….sorry.