The Food Exploration Project – HomeschoolingFor children ages 8 to11 who are homeschooled or in a teaching pod or micro-school, this 9 session program brings together highlights from our school-based programs in a progressive and developmental sequence.
When you teach The Food Exploration Project ─ Homeschooling to your children, they will engage in activities about fresh ingredients and hands-on cooking experiences. They will learn about nutrition and taste. They will also discover how food weaves its way through daily life as it travels from the farm, to the market, and to the table. Each session builds on the previous one and focuses on a selected theme. It includes a recipe that will encourage your children to explore, prepare, and taste healthier foods. In the last lesson, your children use the healthy eating skills they have learned to prepare a “A Dinner Party” for you and your family. Sessions are presented in a fun, hands-on manner with opportunities to learn culinary skills, kitchen science, food origins, and more.
Order a Food Exploration Project – Homeschooling kit now.
For only $30, you will receive your Parent Curriculum Guide, your child’s activity journal, apron and child-safe knife!
Click here to watch the video.
Are you interested in learning more about Spoons Across America’s Food Exploration Project Homeschooling?
In this video, you will see everything that is included when you purchase the kit, the steps to lead an activity with your children, and some helpful tips to be successful while teaching the program.
Click here to watch the video.
One of the most important things for you and your children to do is taste all the ingredients.
In all of Spoons Across America’s programs, we have children taste each ingredient that is used in the recipe. We do this to help children understand the different tastes, feel, and flavors of foods.
In this video, we provide suggestions on how to set up a tasting plate, how to lead your children through a tasting, and how to describe each ingredient.
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Session Descriptions
Session 1: Culinary Practices and Elements of Taste
Your children will be introduced to various kitchen safety rules, sanitation, proper knife skills, and taste five fresh food samples to isolate the five elements of taste.
Session 2: Local and Seasonal
Your children will explore the concept of local and seasonal eating and prepare a seasonal yogurt parfait.
Session 3: What’s in my drink?
Your children will learn about the difference between “natural” and “added” sugars, how to read a nutrition facts label, how to calculate the added sugar content of popular sugar-sweetened beverages, and prepare a fizzy fruit drink.
Session 4: Snack Healthy
Your children will continue to analyze nutrition facts labels, learn about the importance of consuming healthy vs. “not so healthy” snacks, and prepare garbanzitos (a healthy snack using chickpeas).
Session 5: Spoons Salad Days
Your children will learn about kitchen science, emulsification, and prepare a fresh salad with homemade vinaigrette dressing.
Session 6: Where does it grow? The parts of a plant.
Your children will discuss and explore the concept of how plants are grown, the various edible parts of a plant, and prepare a healthy vegetable stir-fry.
Session 7: Food Advertising – Do you buy it?
Your children will discuss the techniques employed by food advertisers, use these techniques to create their own food advertisements for a fruit or vegetable, and prepare a healthy personal pizza using homemade pizza sauce and dough.
Session 8: Family Meals and Celebrations
Your children will discuss family dining habits, eating sweet treats in moderation, and prepare a fresh fruit fool dessert.
Session 9: The Dinner Party
Your children will learn how to set the table; dining etiquette; and will plan, prepare, and host a three-course family meal (a Dinner Party) for your family.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will my children learn in the program?
Your children will learn about healthy eating through hands-on activities that include opportunities for them to taste new and familiar foods, discover where food originates, practice age-appropriate cooking skills, create simple recipes, and have fun while they learn about nutrition and the importance of balanced and healthful eating.
Can the program be taught in a Pod, Micro-school, or by a Tutor?
Yes, although the program has been written for parents, the sessions can easily be taught by an outside teacher, and recipes can be adapted to fit a larger pod or micro-school setting. If you are looking to purchase the program for your children’s pod or micro-school, click this link to purchase one The Food Exploration Project – Homeschooling curriculum and multiple children’s workbooks and aprons.
What are some of the session themes?
Your children will learn about the elements of taste, culinary practices, local and seasonal food, how to read a nutrition label how much is too much sugar content in a drink, healthy snacking, eating different parts of a plant, food advertising, and more.
Where should I teach the program?
Many of the lessons will be best taught in your kitchen, but some of them may be taught from the dining table, a child’s workspace, or even outside.
How often should I teach the program?
Set a schedule of when you will teach the sessions, once a week, every two weeks – our recommendation is once a week, but you will decide what works best for your family.
Do I need to buy any special equipment to do this program?
No, most, if not all, of what you need you most likely own. To help your children through their food adventure, we recommend using child-safe knives and a child-friendly measuring cup and spoon set, but remember that they should be an appropriate size for children to cut, scoop, measure, and pour as they follow along with recipes. You will also need basic kitchen tools, such as an oven, skillet, cooking sheet, and cutting board. If neccessary, you can find many child-sized culinary tools online. Additionally, each session will require some food items. The recipes are designed to include vegetables and fruits that can be found in any grocery store.
Does the program fulfill any state STEM educational requirements?
The Food Exploration Project ─ Homeschooling might contribute to your state’s homeschooling requirements, but you will need to check with your local education department. Throughout the parents’ curriculum guide, there are “subject buttons” posted to highlight when an activity focuses on an academic subject, such as Mathematics, English Language Arts, and Science. Additionally, each session includes teaching extensions for those who are looking to add additional academic lessons into the curriculum. Since each state’s requirements for homeschooling are different, it is up to you to decide if The Food Exploration Project ─ Homeschooling fulfills any specific state homeschooling requirements.
How do you determine how much I must pay for the program?
As a nonprofit organization, we are committed to bringing the message of healthier eating to children across the country. The cost of the program covers our production and shipping expenses only. We fund the balance of the program’s expense through the generosity of individuals just like you.