Watch How You Eat

Don’t play with your food. Set the table properly. Eating habits are not all the same around the world – and they have changed over the years. So watch HOW you eat.

CONNECT:

• Forks are a relatively recent piece of silverware, according to some people. You can see and read its history at http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/design/2012/06/the_history_of_the_fork_when_we_started_using_forks_and_how_their_design_changed_over_time_.html
• When in Rome, do as the Romans. How about eating as the ancient Romans did? Find out more at http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/romans/food/dishes.htm
• What do kids around the world eat for breakfast? Read all about it at http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/10/08/magazine/eaters-all-over.html
• Ever try eating with a spork or a trong? Look at these fun eating utensils: http://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/tools-test-kitchen/article/13-weird-eating-utensils-from-sporks-to-trongs

CREATE:

• By age 5 children should be able to handle chopsticks. Here are simple directions on how to use them: http://www.parenting.com/article/teach-your-child-to-use-chopsticks. And you can learn culturally-sensitive practices at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbldexGclbw
• Start early to learn how to use eating utensils with Sesame Street (… or not): http://watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=25430&CategoryID=7498
• Try some of these food customs from around around the world at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2RnaViWuuE

CARE:

• Here’s a video about teaching children how to set the table: http://watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=7886&CategoryID=7498
• Help make eating time pleasant by following Crawford the Cat’s habits: http://watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=33823&CategoryID=7498
• Eat to make money – to donate to a worthy cause. Here are some starting ideas: http://www.fundraiserinsight.org/ideas/eating-contest.html

CAREERS:

Getting a job, like eating, entails good manners. Here are some tips:

• http://study.com/articles/How_Good_Manners_Can_Help_You_Land_a_Great_Job.html
• https://www.umass.edu/careers/jobsearch/interviews/manners
• http://www.livecareer.com/interview-tips/during/attitude

Kitchens are Cookin'

There’s a world to explore: in your kitchen!

Connect:

• Build your knowledge about kitchen machines at http://www.edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/frame_loader.htm
• Trace the history of kitchen appliances at http://inventors.about.com/od/kstartinventions/a/kitchen.htm
• See this infographic that traces the history of kitchen design at http://www.kitchencabinetkings.com/blog/history-of-kitchen-design/
• Discover the history of the kitchen stove at http://www.oldhouseonline.com/history-of-the-kitchen-stove/
• Eat up the history of pasta: http://oldwayspt.org/sites/default/files/Pasta%20for%20Children2012.pdf

 

Create:

• This site introduces kids to cooking with beginner tips and skills and tons of step-by-step video recipes: http://www.spatulatta.com/
• If you're hungry, grab your apron and get cooking! Making food yourself - with a little help from a parent - is a great way to learn about food and meal preparation. And this site has plenty of recipes for you to try - from pizza to pancakes! http://kidshealth.org/kid/recipes/index.html
• Play these kitchen clerning games: http://www.cleaning-games.net/kitchen-cleaning-games
• Test these food chemistry experiments: http://a2zhomeschooling.com/explore/chemistry_kids/food_chemistry_experiments/ and http://www.science-sparks.com/2013/04/27/kitchen-science-round-up/
• Cooking with children can be fun. Here are tools that every child chef needs: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/kitchen-tools-kids

 

Care:

• What are developmentally appropriate kitchen chores for children? Find out at http://www.clean-organized-family-home.com/kitchen-chores.html#sthash.HWsnl1mO.dpbs
• Be safe in the kitchen by following the tips at http://kidshealth.org/kid/watch/house/safe_in_kitchen.html
• http://www.nutrition.gov/life-stages/children/kids-food-safety covers several aspects of good safety.
• Watch tips about knife safety for kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ICQL5H9qfY
• Kids can help with simple plumbing skills; find out at http://plumbernw.com/teaching-your-children-basic-plumbing-skills/.

 

Careers:

Look around you in the kitchen: food, appliances, utensils, furniture, interior design, cleaning. These items all lead to careers: agriculture, design, carpentry, manufacturing, services, sales, cookery, architecture,plumbing, electrical engineering.  Here are some starting websites:

http://www.pbs.org/food/tag/kitchen-careers/

http://education-portal.com/how_to_become_a_kitchen_designer.html

http://careerplanning.about.com/od/occupations/p/chef_cook.htm

http://www.careeroverview.com/home-appliance-repair-careers.html

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/home.htm