During the Johnny Appleseed festival, there was an apple pie baking contest. We were not able to participate this year, so we held one of our own.
1) We started out in the morning doing RESEARCH; each child had to find and EVALUATE apple recipes from several sources.
2) Once they selected their recipe, they each copied it onto a recipe card (this keeps the cookbook from getting messy and counts as HANDWRITING practice). It also ensures that they READ through the recipe completely.
3) Everyone searched for their needed ingredients, and made a shopping list. This required them to calculate (MATH) the total amounts needed for ingredients that were in more than one recipe. Example: There are 5 cups of flour in the bin; if I need two cups, then I don't need to buy any, but if we each need 2 cups, then we do need to buy some. (COOPERATION)
4) We drove to the grocery store with our list, and each child found the items that they would need, and considered how much would be spent on their recipe (HOME ECONOMICS). If I was to do a project like this again, I would have them find out the cost of every item in their recipe, and determine a cost per serving. (BUSINESS SKILLS/RESTAURANT MGNT.)
5) At home, they worked together COMPARING recipes to determine how to best use the oven (who needed the longest cooking time, highest temp., etc.) CITIZENSHIP
6) They each prepared their recipe, cooked their item and displayed it on a plate. (CREATIVE PRESENTATION)
7) When Dad came home, they presented their creations and had them judged (SPORTSMANSHIP) Summer made an apple cookie, Caitlin made traditional apple pie with a homemade crust, Tyler made apple cake, and Ethan made apple pancakes with homemade syrup.
In the end, Summer won most creative, since she altered a recipe she found and made her own version. Caitlin won most effort since she had to use two different recipes, one for the crust and one for the filling, plus she peeled enough apples for everyone. Tyler won best breakfast, since his bread went great with coffee. Ethan won best taste because the pancakes were good, but the syrup was outstanding!
This unit study was designed and shared by Corinne Johnson, homeschooling mom to 6, seminary wife to Don, and author of Vacation Education Books; unit studies for families who love Walt Disney World.
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