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Plants for Human Health Institute
STEM Education
Plants for Human Health Institute

Cooking with Kids in School

January 17, 2025
three elementary-aged students wearing aprons and preparing a salad together

Cooking with kids in school is more than just a fun activity – it’s a hands-on learning experience that nourishes bodies and minds. Whether you have access to a full kitchen or just a few portable tools, incorporating cooking activities into your curriculum can have lasting impacts on students’ health, confidence and academic success. Here’s how:

1. Building Healthy Eating Habits

When children participate in cooking, they are more likely to try new foods and adopt healthy eating habits. For schools with gardens, cooking activities offer a direct way to use harvested produce, showing students the journey from soil to plate.

a teacher helping an elementary-aged student learn knife skills while slicing a cucumber on a cutting board

2. Cross-Curricular Connections

Cooking can be a dynamic tool for engaging students in meaningful, interdisciplinary learning.

  • Math: Measuring ingredients and adjusting recipes reinforce fractions and ratios.
  • Science: Cooking demonstrates chemical reactions, food preservation and plant biology.
  • Language Arts: Reading recipes, writing reflections, and creating menus build literacy skills.
  • Social Studies: Exploring recipes from different cultures enhances cultural awareness and geography lessons.

3. Boosting Confidence and Teamwork

Cooking with kids opens up a whole new environment that can bring out reluctant learners. Cooking fosters independence and problem-solving as students follow instructions, make decisions, and troubleshoot mistakes. Working in groups strengthens collaboration and communication skills. Students take pride in their finished dishes, building self-confidence and a sense of accomplishment. The hands-on approach that cooking offers helps reach students with learning styles that are not the focus of the typical classroom.

Getting Started

You don’t need a commercial kitchen to cook with kids. Start small with simple, no-cook recipes like salads, smoothies, or wraps. Gradually build up to recipes that involve chopping, mixing and baking. Partner with local chefs, farmers or parents for resources and support.

Cooking with kids empowers them to make healthier choices, builds essential life skills, and enriches classroom learning. So, roll up your sleeves, gather some ingredients, and get cooking!