Making Cook Books That All Children Can Access.
A classroom can become quieter when children know what to do next. Not because the lesson is passive, but because the resource speaks clearly enough for them to act.
I was thinking about classroom resources that as a teacher I actually want.
I find in the classroom so many activities are overly wordy. Children who are excellent mathematicians can't access the work as they stuggle reading the question!
I love cooking and has always been an escape for me, yet so many adults struggle at cookery. I would push it as a life skill. Yet, children are leaving school without the knowledge to cook an egg. (Yes, I'm mentioning my husband here-who is a successful software engineer, only learnt how to fry an egg at age 30)
That is the thinking behind visual cookbooks for children. Many classroom resources rely on long instructions, dense worksheets, or adult explanation at every stage. The adult reads, directs, repeats, and rescues.
I've been spending the summer cooking, planning, tasting and cooking again. I've created healthy recipes using less than 6 ingredients and less than 6 tools. All the steps are visual and simple for children as young as 2 or 3 can use.
Snacks visual recipe book contains 9 simple snack recipes, each broken down into clear, picture-led steps so children can follow the process with minimal reliance on reading.
The recipes progress from easiest to more challenging, allowing children to gradually build their confidence and cooking skills.
I hope this resource can support all children at home and in the classroom
Why visual recipes work so well in the classroom
Cooking is already a sequence. Wash hands. Gather tools. Measure. Mix. Pour. Bake or serve. Clean up.
That makes it perfect for visual learning. A picture-based recipe turns each action into something children can recognise before they can read every word. It also supports children who find long text tiring, children learning English, and children who process
information better through images.
A simple recipe can support:
Fine motor development
Stirring, spreading, squeezing, peeling, spooning, and pouring all strengthen hand control.
Early maths
Children meet counting, measuring, sharing, comparing, and sequencing in a way that feels useful.
Language development
Recipe steps introduce action words such as mix, slice, grate, pour, press, and sprinkle.
Independence
Children learn to prepare something for themselves or for others, then tidy the workspace afterwards.
For anyone looking for a gentle starting point, the Visual Montessori Cook Book is available on Amazon UK.
I am currently working on a main meals and desserts cook book which will be coming out soon!
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