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Goal

My goal with this year-long project is for my students to make the connection between the learning that takes place in the classroom and real life experiences. Cooking is one of those hands on activities that incorporates STEAM, (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) and gets students excited to learn! My goal is to introduce a new cooking challenge every 2-3 months that incorporates our learning standards that were recently taught in all subjects. The challenge will require students to utilize the learning that took place up until the challenge in order to successfully prepare the menu item. In addition to the cross over in curriculum, my goal is to have the students use their communication, cooperation, and collaboration skills in order to successfully complete each challenge. The bonus to this project will be that some of our ingredients for the challenges will come from our class garden that the students will have cared for through the year. Food tends to be the universal language that removes barriers and brings people together. I want my students to apply their knowledge, make connections to real life learning, and come together in our classroom family to successfully complete each challenge as they gain a sense of pride in their hard work, commitment to their peers, and their learning! 

What will be done with my students

Every 2-3 months, a food challenge will be presented to the class that ties in the various content areas. Each challenge will require the teams of chefs to use science, technology, engineering, art, and math by the end of the culinary project. As each group completes their cooking challenge, they will be responsible for recording a digital entry/diary response to what took place during the challenge. In this entry, the students will have to tie in the elements of the challenge to the elements of STEAM. In addition, photos will be taken by the students during each challenge so that an I Movie can be made at the end of the year. A final component of the video diary will be a reflection piece as to how their team did with cooperation, communication, and collaboration. The hope would be for the students to build on the experiences from each challenge in order to increase the successes in the above mentioned areas. A final cookbook will be made at the end of the year that will include photos of the completed projects as well as written student reflection pieces. 

Benefits to my students

"Top Chef STEAM Style" will allow every student, despite the academic, economic, or social backgrounds to successfully participate in the learning transpiring during these challenges. Not only will students have opportunities to reinforce and extend on their learning, this project will truly reinforce the importance of communication amongst their peers! We will tap into the lost art of talking while creating a meal, and enjoying it as a classroom family! Science, technology, engineering, art and math all will be in full force as these young chefs create food that mirrors the curriculum that is placed in front of them, not in a standardized test, but in a REAL LIFE experience! 

Budget Narrative

The above budget includes many items that are non consumable. As a result, future classes will be able to benefit from this unit. The material costs above were based on lowest prices on Amazon as well as items that could be purchased at the Dollar Store. All items will enable the children to safely participate in challenges in a Top Chef format. Having enough materials for each team will ensure all children playing an equal role in each challenge presented to them.  

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