Cooking in Key Stage 1 is about so much more than making tasty food. It’s about helping children grow in confidence, independence, and responsibility while developing a love for nutritious, seasonal meals.
Our Year 2 chefs have been busy mastering real-life kitchen skills that build fine motor control, focus, and teamwork. They’ve learnt how to safely handle knives using the bridge and claw techniques, fry ingredients carefully in a pan, and bake delicious creations in the oven. They’ve even become pros at using stick blenders to make warm, comforting soups and have discovered the importance of eating seasonally to keep our meals fresh, healthy, and sustainable.
Throughout the term, our young cooks have explored vegetarian dishes such as colourful vegetable pizzas and our warm winter couscous salad, learning that meals can be delicious and balanced without meat. Next week, they’ll be measuring ingredients accurately to make savoury cheesy veggie muffins, using kitchen scales to measure dry ingredients precisely. Every step in the kitchen supports both mathematical and scientific learning while encouraging curiosity about food and nutrition.
Most importantly, our Year 2 chefs are learning to take ownership of their learning. They set up their stations, work carefully and independently, and take pride in cleaning up after themselves so the kitchen is ready for the next class. It’s been wonderful to see their skills, confidence, and sense of responsibility grow with each recipe. The joy on their faces as they taste something they’ve made from scratch is proof that cooking truly feeds both the mind and the heart.
Click here to watch a video clip.
By Annelize Engelbrecht
Year 2 Meerkats Class Teacher
