P is for Pancake
Lessons in Writing, Math, & Science!
After reading some books about pancakes, make up a batch of pancake batter -- it's a fun, educational, and edible activity you can use to teach your child about making letters while improving motor skills needed for writing letters and words. Holding a spoon to measure or mix is similar to holding a pen or pencil.
Find a suitable work space -- preferably a low table (not a high countertop)-- where your child can easily measure and mix batter. Get out all of the measuring spoons, cups, and materials you will need in advance, and then show your child how to measure the ingredients to make pancake batter. While measuring, make comparisons between one cup and 1/4 cup, or estimate how much a teaspoon is -- and then measure it to see if you guessed correctly. Invite your child to feel, smell, and taste the individual ingredients -- like flour, salt, sugar, baking powder, etc. Examining the various colors and textures teaches useful science skills. Count and add as you put the appropriate number of tablespoons or cups in the batter. These activities develop the foundation necessary to learn more complex math skills.
Depending on the age and motor skills of your child, once your batter is mixed, fill a clean squirt bottle with pancake mix. Show your child how to squirt out a letter P onto the skillet or griddle -- or let them watch while you do it. Did you forget how to make the letter "P"? Now is a good time to refer to those ABC magnets on the refrigerator door! They provide great visual reminders when your child wants to make a P-shaped pancake. Cook the P-pancake according to your recipe's directions.
Pancake Geography
Pancakes or flat breads are part of the cuisine of many countries around the world. Why not try different kinds of pancakes? I've provided links to recipes below. As you try different variations, be sure to show your child where the country of origin is located on a world globe or map.
Canada -- Canadian pancakes are fluffy. According to one Internet site, in the Canadian province of Newfoundland, meaningful objects and keepsakes such as coins, rings, and thimbles are baked into the pancakes. The lucky one to find a coin in their pancake will be rich, a ring foretells marriage, and finding an item like a thimble means you'll have sewing talent. While kids would probably enjoy excavating their pancakes to look for buried treasure -- it presents a potential choking hazard. You could cook up one (non-edible) batch with trinkets and let the kids search for them, and then cook up a separate batch without trinkets for eating. Again, make sure the children know the difference.
China -- Paper-thin pancakes are served stuffed with meat or vegetables as in the dish called moo shu pork.
Ethiopia -- Injera, a soft, spongy, sourdough round bread is usually served with stews spooned on top.
France -- A French pancake is called a crêpe and is very thin and light. They are often filled with meat, cheese or vegetables for a main meal, or served with fruit filling and whipped cream as a dessert.
Germany -- Eierkuchen is the name for German pancakes.
India -- Chapatis is a traditional pan bread from India.
Jewish Cuisine -- A blintz is a traditional pancake. Of course, many people are more familiar with lattkes or potato pancakes.
Mexico -- Tortillas are thin pancakes make of cornmeal or flour that are part of Mexican and Latin American cooking.
Russia -- Blini is the Russian equivalent of a pancake. They are thin, crisp pancakes, and commonly served with caviar and sour cream or folded over and filled with cream cheese or jam.
