Charlie has been cooking since he was 2 and would help me prepare breakfast and lunches for himself and me. Then when Charlie was 4 he took cooking Classes at the Hurst Recreation Center in Hurst, Texas because he couldn’t attend pre-school because his Birthday was in December.
Even when Charlie was attending Public School we had him cook one night a week so when he grew up Charlie could prepare meals for himself. Fast forward and Charlie has graduated but he still loves to Cook makes dinner a couple times a month for our family. If Charlie wasn’t so adamant about working from home and not liking people, I believe he could have been a Chef and created his own Catering Company. But I’m just a mom and what do I know?
Join my family today as we celebrate a fun #Holidays National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day –and check out our Lesson Plan Inspiration for September 13th. The Lesson Plan is all about empowering kids to explore the culinary world!
Here’s a fun, educational, and hands-on lesson plan idea to celebrate #KidsTakeOverTheKitchenDay in your classroom or at home:
Objective
Encourage children to learn about meal planning, food preparation, and kitchen safety while boosting creativity, responsibility, and teamwork.
Learning Goals
- Understand basic nutrition and food groups
- Practice sequencing and following instructions
- Develop fine motor skills through food prep
- Foster independence and confidence
📋 Materials Needed
- “My Favorite Recipe” activity sheet
- Art supplies (markers, crayons, scissors)
- Pencils and paper
- Optional: simple ingredients for a no-cook recipe (e.g., fruit salad, or sandwiches)
Activities
1. Recipe Brainstorm
Students choose a favorite meal and fill out the activity sheet:
- Name of the dish
- Ingredients (they can guess if unsure)
- Step-by-step instructions on how to make it
- Who usually prepares it at home
2. Kitchen Roles Discussion
Talk about what goes into meal prep:
- Who shops for groceries?
- Who plans meals?
- What part would your students ie children like to help with?
3. Mini Chef Challenge
If possible, let students prepare a simple snack or dish. Encourage teamwork and hygiene (handwashing, and clean-up).
4. Reflection & Sharing
have the students present their recipe to the class or family. Have the children discuss what they learned and what they’d still like to know about cooking.
Extension Ideas
- Create a Spotify “Kitchen Jams” playlist for cooking time
- Host a mini bake-off or tasting event
- Design a themed dinner (e.g., “Beach Day” or “Fall Harvest”)
- Deliver a homemade treat to a neighbor as a kindness challenge
National Kids Take Over The Kitchen Day is a perfect blend of fun and life skills. It doesn’t matter if you’re a teacher or a parent, National Kids Take Over The Kitchen Day is a great excuse to let kids lead and learn. If you want help customizing a Lesson Plan for different age groups or settings? I’ve got ideas! Just leave me a comment below with what your needing and I will get to work on it.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
