Rattle Those Pots and Pans:

Classroom Cooking Activities Incorporating Technology and

Literacy

Holly Cooper, Ph.D. Pat Van Geemhollycooper@tsbvi.edu patvangeem@tsbvi.edu

Outreach Assistive Technology ConsultantsTexas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

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Benefits of cooking activities

Cooking is a motivating activity for many people. Cooking provides experiences with:

Aromas Colors Textures Shapes Temperatures Weights

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Benefits of cooking activities

Cooking is

A pleasant way to spend time with others or alone

A channel for activity: stirring, pouring, cleaning up

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Benefits of cooking activities

Students who do not like to eat may enjoy food preparation and tasting

Students who are tube fed can experience food in a fun, non-threatening way

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Benefits of cooking activities

Cooking is age appropriate for a variety of students

Very young children can pour, stir, spread, taste, touch and smell

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Benefits of cooking activities

Cooking is beneficial for elementary school students

They can cook simple meals or special treats for an instructional activity

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Benefits of cooking activities

Cooking is beneficial for secondary aged students who can

Participate in home economics in an inclusion setting

Participate in vocational or life skills training

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Benefits of cooking activities

Cooking is a good activity in which to use technology

Almost any student can participate with support

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Benefits of cooking activities

Cooking is a good activity in which to use media modifications for:

Print readers Braille readers Tactile symbol users Picture symbol users

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Benefits of cooking activities

Cooking is a good way to teach communication skills in a functional context:

Requesting Responding Turn taking Responding to novel

situations or surprises

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Benefits of cooking activities

Cooking is a good way to include peers as a helper or as a participant

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Benefits of cooking activities

Cooking is a good way to teach academic skills in a functional context:

Reading Math Science Geography

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Benefits of cooking activities

Cooking is a crucial part of the Expanded Core Curriculum

See the RECC at http://www.tsbvi.edu/recc/index.htm

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Benefits of cooking activities

Cooking is a multi-sensory activity that can address a variety of learning domains

(See infused skills checklist)

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Getting Ready

Find a good location in the room or school

In a kitchen or kitchen area

Near a water source Near a power source In a location where

snacks or meals are served

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Getting Ready

Suggested tools if you don’t have a kitchen: (any or all)

Small fridge Microwave Blender Toaster oven Hot plate Hot pot or rice cooker

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Planning the Activity

What tools and appliances will be used?

Make sure you have everything assembled

Or plan for where the students must go to get them in natural but accessible locations

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Planning the Activity

Plan with the students:

Choose the food or recipe together

Talk about the ingredients, review vocabulary and “sight” words

Talk about what tools ingredients will be used, and where you find them

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Planning the Activity

What modifications are needed? Prepare:

Photographs Braille Print Tactile symbols Communication overlays Recipes

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Planning the Activity

Shopping: Can this become part of the activity?

Make grocery lists Plan for transportation Count money Look for

advertisements (prices)

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Planning the Activity

Money

Donations of money or ingredients from parents

Sell your product to raise money: popcorn, cookies, dog biscuits

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Doing It

Wash hands and food surfaces

Beware of the good fairy syndrome

Minimize prompting Maximize

communication opportunities

Clean up is part of the activity

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Reviewing It

Talk about the activity afterwards

Conversations help review the spoken or signed vocabulary

Write an Experience Story, it helps review print, braille or tactile symbols

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Reviewing It

Experience story:

Collect “artifacts” during the activity: photos, packages, etc

Talk about the steps involved in fixing the food

Talk about who did which steps

Talk about who liked the taste Write it in accessible format Share it with peers, parents

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Alternative Food Experiences

For students who are tube fed, have trouble eating or find food aversive:

Encourage these students to touch, smell and taste (if allowed)

Guide students gently to put their hands in doughs or batters

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Alternative Food Experiences

For students who are tube fed, have trouble eating or find food aversive:

Make smoothies using yogurt, ice cream or fruit juice as a base

Experiment with frozen treats Make healthy sweet snacks such as

apple sauce Avoid temperature extremes (except

some students love ice cream and frozen treats)

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Repetition is not only O.K. it’s good educational programming

Cook often and have fun!

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