Pratical life : Making Bread

Each morning in the toddler community, one child is invited to make bread. The children have been working since September to build their skills, concentration level, coordination and knowledge of order. It is a big task that the children take with great responsibility. They get to serve the bread at lunch, share it with other classrooms, and take some home for their families. This not only helps children build their Practical Life skills but it helps them feel connected to their community. 

If you would like to try this activity at home, here is the lesson plan guide:

MATERIALS: flour, salt, sugar, water, yeast, oil (optional), small bowl, large bowl, spoon, measuring cups, pastry weight, apron

PRESENTATION: 

• Wash hands
• Put on apron
• Pour yeast, sugar, and water into small bowl
• Stir mixture
• Measure flour to 400 grams
• Pour flour into large bowl
• Add salt and oil into large bowl and mix
• Add contents of small bowl into large bowl and mix
• Mix until there is no longer any dry flour
• Lightly flour table surface
• Put dough out onto floured table
• Flatten the dough then fold in half several times (kneading)
• Return dough to bowl to rise
• Clean up materials and table
• Adult puts bread into oven

CONTROL OF ERROR:

• Size of measuring cups and containers
• Dough will be too sticky if too much water is added
•  Dough will be too dry if not enough water is added

POINTS OF INTEREST:

• Measuring and pouring ingredients
• Kneading and shaping dough
• Being able to make bread to serve at lunch
• Taking bread home to share with family
• Olfactory, tactile and gustatory sensations

DIRECT AIM:

•  Independence
•  Order
•  Concentration
•  Coordination

INDIRECT AIM:    

•  Making bread with own two hands
•  Sharing with community

LANGUAGE: 

English/French

•  Bread/Pain
• Apron/Tablier
• Flour/Farine
• Yeast/Levure
• Salt/Sel
• Sugar/Sucre
• Water/L’eau
• Oil/Huile
• Bowl/Bol
• Spoon/Cuillère
• Pour/Verser
• Mix/Mélanger
• Knead/Pétrir

AGE: 

You can start at 2- 2,5 years old.

EXTENSIONS AND VARIATIONS:

• Using a rolling pin
• Making a special recipe

Nikki