Second Graders Cook at PS
98
By Dorothy Davis
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(R)
One of the teams cooking, (L) Dyanira Castillo |
Lisa Lloyd's Second
Grade class at PS 98 in upper Manhattan reinforced counting,
reading and teamwork skills while enthusiastically preparing
tasty treats. Teacher Lloyd's project, “Cooking
Across the Curriculum,” incorporates math, literature,
writing and social studies into cooking classes. Principal
Carmela Marolda was excited to learn that her school is one
of 10 winners of the Kaplan All Star Project Awards, part of a $100,000 pledge from Kaplan, Inc. to DonorsChoose, a non-profit
organization that matches teachers seeking funding for education-related
projects. Because of Teacher Lloyd's grant she was able to
buy a nifty cooking cart complete with all accessories, to
be shared with other classes in her school.
Children in Grades 2 to 5 at PS 98, which serves a recent
immigrant population, were arranged in three teams, one at
each table. On the cooking cart, each item was labeled so children
could learn words like microwave and refrigerator, gallon and
quart, blender and mixer. On the board were written the utensils
needed, the ingredients and then the recipe. Ms. Lloyd clearly
read the instructions, then demonstrated and asked questions
to ensure understanding.
Rosemary Blanco was celebrating her birthday on the day we
visited, turning eight years. Dyanira Castillo was a very capable
third grader helping the teacher.
Some comments from the kids while cooking:
“I
like it when you work together with someone else. It
really feels good when you're sitting next to each other helping
out.”
“My favorite
part is when we eat it!”
“I like when
we mix it and we pour it!”
“My favorite part is when we say ÔBon
Appetit, it's time to eat!'”
“I like the tasting part!”#
[A note from the
Editor: Visiting schools is always one of the best parts
of my job. This visit however was memorable in transporting
me to the school of my childhood days in the Bronx. The small
staircases with iron grills on the sides, the window shades
that rolled from the top as well as the bottom, the fluorescent
lighting in the room, the color of the floors and walls,
and the beautifully decorated classroom with children's jobs,
daily plan on an experience chart, the library corner and
evidence of the children's work everywhere was nostalgic.
More important, sitting in the class with primarily Spanish-speaking
children was a powerful reminder of the “places you can go” with
a strong education foundation.]
