A couple of weeks ago, I noticed we had a very large zucchini that needed to be eaten so I planned on making zucchini bread with it. I began grating the zucchini in the morning and then M showed up for school. I moved my grating station down to the table after M asked, "what are you doing?" I continued grating the zucchini, as M watched curiously. Then T showed up and after washing her hands, quickly came over and sat at the table. She looked in the bowl as I continued grating. I let them know that after snack we could make the batter for zucchini bread together or I could make it while they were sleeping. M immediately said, "I want to help make it." Then T said, "I want to help!" During snack, we talked again about the plans to make the zucchini bread batter together after snack. I gave everyone the choice to either help make zucchini bread or play in the classroom. Everyone wanted to help!
I got out all of the
ingredients, bowls, measuring cups and spoons, and placed them on the
tables. T, M, S, and A sat down around the tables
and we began discussing the process of making zucchini bread. We
started by measuring, pouring, and mixing the dry ingredients
together.
S and T each poured a cup
of flour in the bowl. A added the cinnamon and M added the baking
soda. M began stirring the dry ingredients together, holding the
spoon steady while turning the bowl around and around.
Next came the wet
ingredients. I cracked the eggs in the bowl and M immediately began
breaking the yolks with the tip of the spoon! After passing the eggs
around to be stirred, M poured oil into the bowl and turned the bowl
in a circle.
S put brown sugar in the
bowl and focused closely on the batter, as she stirred it slowly.
S then carefully passed
the bowl to T. T put white sugar in the bowl and carefully folded
the sugar in, lifting her spoon slightly out of the batter and
placing it back in. T then passed the bowl to A, who poured vanilla
into the bowl and began stirring it in. A said, “Stir, stir,” as
he continued to mix the vanilla in with the batter.
As A passed the bowl to M,
he said “A's turn. A's turn.” We discussed how sometimes we take
turns, like when we make something together. We talked about how each
person got a turn to stir and then we would pass it to the next
person to stir. A then said, “Yeah!”
Time to add the wet
ingredients to the dry ingredients!
After A was done stirring the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients, he said "I'm done." He and S chose to go wash their hands and play in the classroom.
M and T helped make the rest of the batter by stirring in the shredded zucchini! I then poured the batter into two loaf pans and baked the bread. We got to eat our homemade bread for afternoon snack. YUMM!
By having the toddlers help make various breads and other food, they are learning about the scientific properties of different ingredients when they are mixed together, learning about measurements, building self-confidence and competence, and strengthening fine-motor skills while measuring, pouring, and stirring. They are also strengthening social skills such as taking turns and passing and are gaining a sense of self-worth and community through helping make snack for all of the cohorts at TIH to enjoy!
Our Zucchini Bread Recipe:
1.5 cups white flour
1.5 cups whole-wheat flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
3 tsp ground cinnamon
3 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup apple sauce
1/4-1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4-1/3 cup white sugar
3 tsp vanilla
3-4 cups grated zucchini
Directions:
- Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
- Mix flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
- Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.
- Bake for 40 to 60 minutes. Cool in pan. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.
ENJOY!!
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