Baking Bread

Activity Overview

Bread making is a multisensory experience that strengthens the small muscles in the hands through mixing, measuring, balancing, spooning, and kneading. For young children, the act of kneading can be a rhythmic, soothing experience that aids in the development of their proprioceptive sense.

The bread recipe we will use was adapted from the Spring Garden Waldorf School. Because this original recipe makes quite a sizable quantity, we have cut it in half. Even if the measurements are off a little, or if you accidentally add too much flour, it still comes out great! In that spirit, remember to let the student do as much of it on their own as they can.

What You Need

• Mixing bowl

• Measuring cups and spoons

• Ingredients:

  • 1 T yeast

  • 1 ½ C warm water

  • ⅛ C honey + ½ T honey

  • 2 T + 2 t oil or melted butter

  • I ½ t salt

  • 3-4 C flour + ½ C flour for work surface (Note: One cup of the flour can be substituted for oats, seeds, or millet. We highly recommend millet - it is a rarer protein-rich grain that gives a hearty flavor)

Steps

1. Mix yeast, ½ T honey and some warm water in a bowl. Leave it to foam up

2. Combine with warm liquid, oil or butter, salt, honey and yeast mixture in a large bowl.

3. Add the flour mixture until the liquid is absorbed. Let sit for 5 minutes.

4. Continue adding the flour mixture until the dough is kneadable, but a tiny bit sticky.

5. Flour up your hands and your surface heavily (it’s a sticky dough!). Knead dough until smooth and form into rolls or loaves. (Recipe should make 1 loaf or 12 rolls)

6. Place on a cookie sheet in a preheated 200℉ oven for 15 minutes to rise.

7. Turn up to 300℉ and bake for 15-20 minutes until done (they may come out a little pale, but that is ok)

Make sure the student is an active part of the set up and clean up process. This will help them understand the full scope of time and energy that goes into food preparation and projects like this.

Guiding Questions

• How does the dough feel? How does it smell? How does it taste?

• What is our next step?

• Review the steps you have done as you work through them. This will allow the student to practice their understanding of sequencing and help them with their recall memory.

Extensions

• Turn this activity into a picnic! Have the student choose one fruit and one vegetable to cut up as well as anything else they would like to prep. Make sandwiches or special snacks that your family enjoys. Pack a bag or basket, or, lay everything out on the living room floor and enjoy!

• Cutting and helping prepare food are life skills that the students will be able to add to their tool belt, and also feel a strong sense of accomplishment once the bread is baked.

• There are so many great children's books about baking bread. With your student, read Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard, Bread, Bread, Bread by Ann Morris, or Bread Comes to Life by George Levenson.