I can’t believe I’m finally getting to write about this program! We had it planned for LAST winter, but our library branch had an unfortunate pipe burst that really did extensive damage and we were closed for quite a bit. Finally, after reopening, getting through summer reading and back to school, we’re finally getting to actually do this program!
Description: Read about your cupcake and eat it, too! We’ll read a book, sing some songs, and make delicious food.
Details: This was a 1.5hr program for kids 3-6 years old with their caregiver. Because it was our first one for the series, we spent about 5 hours planning the flow, details and components of the program. The budget was $50, a bit higher than I’d do for one session, but the cost of food was the main portion.
Now, buckle up, cause it was an adventure!
I partnered up with one of my coworkers, C, and we planned hard for this first “test” of the series. I’d actually like to take this moment to say without a doubt, I could NOT have even slightly pulled off this program without her. Our branch has a teaching kitchen in it (fancy, I know!) and having done some low-key cooking programs without an actual kitchen in past library jobs – I know how fast they can turn wild and chaotic. So we intentionally wanted to begin very small and controlled, which I’ll explain those choices and how they worked in a bit. First, let’s look at the actual flow of the program!
We set out to have two main portions of the program. 1) the cooking/instuction/hands-on component. 2) a short storytime to reinforce the foods and concepts we did during cooking. Our first session was all about cupcakes. Here’s what the cooking portion looked like:
Welcome: We welcomed everyone into the kitchen, asked them to wash their hands and for the grownups to sign waivers for themselves and their preschooler. Waivers are something we have to do for every single kitchen program, no matter what we’re making.
Ingredients: We talk about ingredients, letting the kids know that “Ingredients are the pieces we put in.” Then we go through ingredients and have the kids call out what it is and introduce ingredients they may not know.
Measurements: Here, we talked about how we have to put the ingredients together to make the cupcakes. But how do we know how much to add? Should we add an entire bag of flour? Noooooo. We have to measure the ingredients! So we explain how we use measuring cups. “Sometimes we need a whole cup, but sometimes we need something smaller. We even gave each caregiver/kid group a set of foam circle fractions as a visual representation of half and whole – “We’re passing out some fraction pieces, so if it’s not your turn to be a helper, you and your grownup can practice the measurements.”
Instructions: Now, it’s time for some actual action! We talk about how instructions are how we put the ingredients in. We have to follow the instructions to make the cupcakes. Here, we ask for “helpers.” At each step of the instructions, we break up the measurements to incorporate the kids in a hands-on manner without needing many sets or the possibility of chaos erupting. For example, the first step is to put 3 cups of flour into a mixing bowl. We call the first three kids to come behind the counter to help us measure flour into the bowl. Each of the 3 kids measure 1 cup of flour. Then we repeat until we’ve moved through the entire recipe while making sure we call each kid to be a helper at least once. Throughout the program, if we had any moments when there was downtime (such as dividing the batter into the cupcake pans) we tried to add in open-ended questions/predictions or even taste-testing of the ingredients (such as tasting the sugar and the unsweetened cocoa).
Storytime: Once the batter is mixed and divided up into the cupcake pans, we break for a short storytime while the cupcakes bake. I read stories about cake/cupcakes, we did a few songs and rhymes, and then we moved back to the kitchen to finish off the cupcakes. I did a separate post on the storytime since it can be its very own theme for any time of the year’s regularly scheduled storytimes. You can find it here!
Finishing Up: We mixed up some American Buttercream with the same controlled process as before and then let the kids decorate their cupcakes!
All in all, it was a successful program that the caregivers complimented on their way out and the kids stayed engaged the whole way through. We’re definitely going to do more and are hoping to highlight foods that the kids might not be super familiar with.
Librarian Ginny 