Food Week Fun: Special Education Teacher Amy Klein Shares Tasty Learning Experience
Marcus Avenue Preschoolers recently enjoyed a tasty learning experience, as BCCS Special Education Teacher Amy Klein led a series of food-themed activities bringing new sights, smells, and flavors to the classroom.
During the Creative Curriculum’s Food Week, students didn’t just learn about different dishes, recipes, and ingredients, they also worked on social development skills like sharing, waiting one’s turn, and following directions.
“They had a lot of fun with it. They really seemed to enjoy the lessons,” said Amy.
The Creative Curriculum is centered around establishing foundational concepts and lessons teaching students to better understand the world around them. Before introducing the Food Week theme, lessons covered babies, a topic hard for the preschoolers to grasp.
“It was just too abstract,” said Amy. “It’s always better when you can bring a real object so they can have hands-on learning.”
Working with food is tangible and fun. Although some students may be picky eaters, they generally love to eat. The classroom is already a place where they’re introduced to new ideas, which makes them more receptive to trying new things.
They started the week by reading “Pete the Cat the and the Perfect Pizza Party,” and followed up with a craft project that included making pizzas with a paper plate.
To create personal pizzas, Amy brought in tortillas, tomato sauce, and shredded cheese, simple ingredients for students to create the familiar dish and have their own pizza party right in the classroom.
The next day, students made a menu for the day with pictures of food including what they would eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner to familiarize themselves with what a full day of nutritious eating would look like. Later, they made strawberry shortcake by cutting up fruit, following directions, and taking turns completing the project.
Including activities that support incidental learning is vital in preschool to help students develop positive associations with the classroom. This will support their success as they continue their educational journey and foster a lifelong love of learning by encouraging curiosity, exploration, and confidence in their ability to discover new ideas through everyday experiences.