Teach Me How to Make Pancakes…

Teach me how to make pancakes…

As you read that title, are you sure that you have clicked on an educational blog? But for REAL, WHY NOT!? Teach me how to make pancakes. Everyone loves PANCAKES! I know what your mind instantly jumps to- Sunday morning with Grandma and the best pancakes you have ever tasted. You have no idea how that translates to a room full of kids chanting “teach me how to make pancakes!” Well when I hear pancakes- I think of every other Sunday at my house (because we have a long standing pancake Sunday tradition). BUT, I also think of EVERY May when I have a class full of students making pancakes and loving life.  This blog will lead you to a lesson that creates that mindset and picture as well for your own room!

Pancakes for Beginners

This lab truly requires no previous knowledge. The lesson will walk you through everything you need to know. I like to say that I teach a pancakes for beginners class. I have had so many students come back to me to say thank you. Even though we just learn about how to read a recipe or the directions on the back of the box- it becomes a way to connect to their grandparents, make food for themselves, or gain confidence to try a new thing. It is something that you and I probably take for granted, but for these students sitting in your room, it is a life skill that can be translated into so many other areas!

Pancake Day Lesson Plan

This lesson plan can be a stand alone item in your curriculum that you use as a motivational tool OR can truly be integrated into what you are learning. I use it as our topic for National Pancake Day and I have also used in several times as my final in my food science class. It covers so many skills that I am looking for to see if they have mastered.

We make it a competition! The 6 groups have to come up with either a sweet or savory pancake depending on what they draw from the hat. They get a budget and then they have to be able to complete all the tasks and have their pancake plated at the end of the class. The competition is FIERCE and fun and so enjoyable! We have had some really really awesome pancakes and we have also had some that need to go back to the recipe board for some tweaks. But truly you can make this lab what you want in your own environment.

But HOW do I actually cook them in my room?!

Easy. Two words – Electric. Skillet. Either one for the whole class OR one for each group OR even just two that can be shared and cook on different days. Did you know that there are a TON of different EASY boxed pancake mixes that just need WATER!! This lab could be literally the neatest thing you have EVER DONE! Can you also imagine the extensions you could do with this? I can! Start thinking about the comparisons you can make between groups, brands, what you could do with a short story or a creative writing prompt with pancakes…. what if you added more or less water and created hypothesis! The ideas could go on and on! This lesson is something you can easily do in YOUR room with any grade level!