Cooking is one of the easiest ways to incorporate math concepts into real-life scenarios. Children often like to find their way into the kitchen when their parents cook. Instead of sending a child out because they are bound to make a mess, you can engage them in the cooking process.
One of the benefits of live math online is that you find all the different concepts that can be used in the kitchen.
Here are some ways of how to teach kids math concepts using cooking as a tool.
Measuring ingredients
Measuring is one of the math skills kids learn in school or using math apps for kids, and you can teach them this math concept when you are cooking. For example, when you are baking and kids are in the kitchen, you can explain to them why 1 oz of vanilla is more than 1 tbsp and why they cannot be interchanged so as not to ruin the meal. Similarly, you can teach them about other foods using the same methods.
Counting items
If you want to cook potatoes or solid items that require counting, you can always have kids count with you as you cook. You can also do the same with ingredients and have kids count how many spoons of salt you put in the meal. If you use a mixer, allow your child to count the number of times the mixer spins.
Noticing geometry in food
Chicken nuggets come in shapes, and that’s why kids love them. If you can make chicken nuggets, get your kids to the kitchen, make different shapes, and have them name them individually. You can also replicate nuggets with pancakes, cakes, and other baked goods that you can cut into shapes to excite your kids.
The most popular shapes you can always find in food are circles, stars, triangles, and squares, and kids are usually familiar with them at an early age.
Checking time for food
Kids often get impatient when waiting for food to be ready, so instead of having them wait and complain, teach them time by explaining how long the cooking process will take. For example, you can set a stopwatch and count until the food is ready.
Measuring temperature
When it comes to baking pastries or any type of meal in an oven, you’ll need to constantly gauge the temperature. However, this can be a fun learning experience for kids. You can use a thermometer to check the temperature with your kids. In the same vein, you can teach kids how to convert degrees from Celsius to Fahrenheit.
Conclusion
If you want your kids to learn math with ease, you must find ways to incorporate math concepts into different aspects of their life. One of the ways is cooking food because the process brings families together. So, take your kids to the kitchen and teach them math concepts while cooking!