5 Ways to use Cooking to Teach Basic Concepts

December 2024 Kristine Deworocki

Today, I want to cover some creative ways to help you cook and teach basic concepts! Teaching basic concepts is such a fun and rewarding experience, especially when you can make it hands-on and engaging for your kiddos.

As an SLP, I’ve always loved finding ways to make learning language enjoyable and meaningful for my students.

Basic Concepts Grab and Go

First, I want to talk about one of my favorite resources: the Grab N' Go Basic Concepts Pack!

These aren’t just any task cards they’re color-coded, easy-to-use tools designed to help kids practice essential language skills like spatial, temporal, qualitative, and quantitative concepts.

You can take them anywhere even to the kitchen 😉.

What makes them amazing?

Versatile Uses: Perfect for therapy sessions, centers, RTI, or even at home. These cards are adaptable and can fit seamlessly into various settings to meet students' unique needs.
Interactive Options: Use magnetic chips, bingo daubers, Play-Doh, or dry-erase markers to make learning fun and hands-on. The tactile engagement helps reinforce concepts effectively.
Progress Monitoring: A handy data sheet is included to track growth over time. This feature makes it easy to see how much progress students are making and plan future lessons.
Parent Involvement: With black-and-white flashcards and parent/guardian letters, these cards are great for homework and carryover activities. Parents can actively participate in their child's learning journey.
Posters: Four colorful posters with clear explanations and examples to reinforce each concept. These visuals make it easier for kids to understand and remember the concepts.

5 Activities to Use in The Kitchen

1. Teaching Spatial Concepts (In, On, Under, Next to)

Use food placement to introduce spatial terms. For example:

"Put the spoon in the bowl."
"Place the plate next to the cup."

During meal prep or snack time, give instructions that include these spatial words.

For instance, you can ask your child to put a napkin under the fork or place a piece of fruit on the plate.

You can also grab a set of 72 SPATIAL cards from your Grab N' Go Basic Concepts Pack and ask your child to identify or match terms like "on," "under," or "next to" as they organize utensils and food items.

Cooking makes these abstract concepts concrete and relatable, turning simple tasks into meaningful language lessons.

2. Introducing Size Concepts (Big, Small, More, Less)

Cooking is perfect for discussing size and quantity:

"We need a big spoon to stir the batter."
"Let’s add more flour to make the dough thicker."

You can also talk about small vs. big portions while serving food or identify when you need less of an ingredient.

These simple comparisons help children grasp everyday concepts while building language skills in a real-world context

Incorporate 96 QUALITATIVE cards from the Grab N' Go pack by asking students to identify the concepts.

3. Learning Colors and Shapes Through Food

Identify colors and shapes as you prep meals:

"What color is this carrot?"
"Can you find a round cookie cutter?"

Take it a step further by cutting fruits and veggies into shapes like stars, hearts, or circles. Discuss the color of ingredients as you go "This pepper is red, and the lettuce is green."

As you work through this, reference the 96 QUALITATIVE cards for identifying colors or shapes like "round" or "green."

This activity combines language learning with a sensory experience, making it both fun and educational.

4. Introducing Temperature Concepts (Hot, Cold, Warm)

Discuss how foods feel before and after cooking:

"The soup is hot after it’s cooked, but the ice cream is cold."
"The bread is warm fresh out of the oven."

Ask children to touch items carefully and describe how they feel. For instance, "How does the cold milk feel compared to the warm tea?"

This sensory experience helps children understand temperature differences in a meaningful way while enhancing their descriptive vocabulary.

5. Understanding Quantities (Full, Empty, Half)

Use measuring cups and containers to explore quantities:

"Is the cup full or empty?"
"Let’s fill it halfway."

Grab your 60 QUANTITATIVE cards and ask your child to identify concepts like "full," "empty," or "half" as you measure ingredients for a recipe. You can also introduce more abstract concepts like "many" and "few" while talking about the number of ingredients used.

These interactive activities offer a great way to practice math and language skills in an everyday context.

Extend Your Learning

Cooking is such a great way to reinforce basic concepts in a hands-on, fun way. It’s one of those activities that can be as quick or as in-depth as you want it to be.

Need a short activity? Focus on just one concept, like identifying colors or practicing spatial terms during snack prep. Want to dive deeper? Turn it into a full learning session by involving your child in every step, from measuring ingredients to describing the cooking process.

I’ve seen how cooking can make a big difference, helping kids learn in a more interactive and meaningful way while keeping things practical for busy parents and teachers.

Plus, it’s a fantastic way to make life easier for everyone when it comes to teaching important concepts. Click the image below to grab your Grab N' Go Basic Concepts Pack!

Basic Concepts
After cooking, try asking your child to describe what they’ve just done using full sentences. For example, they can say, “I put the spoon on the plate,” or “The bread is warm.”

This simple step helps them practice the concepts they’ve learned while building their communication skills in a natural, engaging way.

And if you’re looking for more ways to make learning even easier, check out my other Grab N' Go resources there's plenty more to explore and use in fun, engaging ways! Learn more about them here!