Dear Teacher,
Welcome to our latest ChopChop curriculum, designed as a tool to teach cooking as an interdisciplinary subject. Using
ChopChop in the classroom inspires children to cook and eat real food, and also supports learning in math, English, science,
and social studies. You can adapt this curriculum to fit the needs of your classroom.
To create the best learning experience for your students, be sure to:
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Read the Teacher’s Guide provided in order to prepare for each lesson.
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Read and discuss the information provided with students in order to prepare them for class.
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Uphold high sanitation and safety standards within the classroom.
Keep it Clean!
1. Make sure your students (and you) practice good hand washing before and during class (as needed). Use warm water and soap.
2. Tie back long hair and remove nail polish before cooking, and wear closed-toed shoes while cooking. Remind
students to keep their hands away from their mouth and face.
3. Keep cooktops, surfaces, utensils, and kitchen gear clean.
Keep it Safe!
1. Wash all fruits and vegetables before use.
2. Keep all kitchen gear and ingredients off the floor. Refrigerate any produce that needs to be refrigerated (excluding onions, garlic, tomatoes, bananas, etc.) as well as perishable items.
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Establish a set of classroom rules when cooking. For example:
1. Be careful with the equipment and be conscious of your surroundings.
2. You are going to try some new things and you may love them but maybe you won’t: NO “ewwww’s.” 3. Always wash your hands before you begin cooking.
4. Wear closed-toed shoes.
5. Every day we will sit down to eat together. Please wait until everyone has finished cooking and has sat down before you start eating.
6. Everyone will clean up his or her own mess.
We appreciate and value your expertise and welcome any feedback regarding the curriculum. If you have any questions,
comments, or concerns, please contact us at [email protected].
Happy cooking!
The ChopChop Team
Teacher Guide
Cooking & Math:
Math is one of the most important (and frequent) skills used in cooking. Math helps kids measure, convert recipes, and
change the serving size. In this lesson, students will learn how to adjust a recipe’s size.
Student Worksheet
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Adjusting a Recipe
Cooking & English (ELA):
Reading and writing are important parts of cooking. You can use recipes and mealtime conversation to teach vocabulary
and enrich writing skills.
Student Worksheets
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Synonyms
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Antonyms
Kitchen Science:
Cooking is all about science: which ingredients a recipe is composed of; how foods interact; and the microscopic parts
of food that simply make food what it is! In these lessons, kids will learn about the chemistry behind making cheese.
Student Worksheets
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How Does Milk Turn Into Cheese?
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Bonus Experiment: Lemon vs. Vinegar
Cooking & History/Social Studies:
Cooking is a great way to discuss history and culture. In these activities, students will study the history and geography
of ricotta cheese.
Student Worksheet
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History and Geography of Ricotta
www.chopchopmag.org
Homemade Ricotta
Remember Little Miss Muffet? When you make ricotta cheese, you use acid (lemon juice or vinegar) to curdle the milk, which
means you get the protein in milk to clump together into a mixture of curds and the watery leftovers, known as whey. It
might take a little experimenting to get the hang of this recipe, but it’s always edible, even if it doesn’t come out perfectly.
Try the ricotta spooned onto fresh bread with a drizzle of olive oil or honey, eat it with fresh strawberries and a sprinkle of
sugar, or use it to make our Ricotta Pancakes or our Skillet Lasagna (www.chopchopmag.org/recipe/skillet-lasagna).
ADULT: YES ❚ HANDS-ON TIME: 30 MINUTES ❚ TOTAL TIME: 1 HOUR ❚ MAKES: 1½ —2 cups
milk isn’t burning on the
bottom of the pot,
15 to 30 minutes, depending upon your stove.
4. Add the lemon juice and/
or vinegar, then turn the
heat down to low and
cook, stirring constantly,
until the mixture curdles,
1 to 2 minutes (a). The
INGREDIENTS
mixture will separate into
2 quarts (½ gallon)
curds (the thick, cottage
whole milk
cheese-like part) and whey
½ teaspoon salt
(the watery part).
3 tablespoons fresh lemon 5. Turn the heat off and let
juice or white vinegar or
the mixture sit at least
a combination (we have
20 minutes and up to
had the best results with
2 hours (b).
1 tablespoon lemon
juice and 2 tablespoons 6. Using the slotted spoon,
carefully remove the curds
vinegar)
from the pot and put
INSTRUCTIONS
them in the colander (c).
1. Spread out the cheesecloth
With the help of an adult,
or dish towel in the colanpour the remaining liquid
der or strainer, and put the
into the colander. Let the
colander over the bowl.
curds drain for 15 to 20
2. Pour the milk into the pot
minutes (d). The longer
and add the salt. Put the
it drains, the thicker the
pot on the stove and turn
ricotta will be.
the heat to medium.
7. Eat or use the ricotta right
3. Bring the milk to a full,
away, or cover and refrigerrolling boil, stirring it ocate up to 2 days.
casionally to make sure the
Photo: Carl Tremblay
KITCHEN GEAR
Cheesecloth or a clean
dish towel
Colander or strainer
Large bowl
Measuring spoons
Large heavy pot
Slotted spoon
Pot holder
www.chopchopmag.org
a
b
c
d
Whey to go!
The liquid whey leftover from making ricotta is really healthy
because it is a complete protein and contains essential
amino acids. Cover and refrigerate it to use in breads, soups,
and smoothies instead of milk or water. You can also use
it instead of water when cooking pasta or rice. Or, if you’re
really adventurous, try drinking it plain (you’ll make your
great-grandma proud!).
To subscribe to
go to www.chopchopmag.org
Adjusting a Recipe
Recipes are usually written to make a specific amount. The Homemade Ricotta recipe makes 1 ½ to 2 cups, but can change
depending on the acidity of the lemon or vinegar used.
For this activity, we will say that this recipe makes about 2 cups. Sometimes you will need to adjust, or change, a recipe so
that it can make a larger amount (to feed more people or use in a recipe that requires a larger amount).
You can use your math skills to change a recipe so that it will work better for what you need. You can halve a recipe (making
only ½ of it) by dividing all the ingredient amounts by 2 or you can double the recipe by multiplying all the ingredient
amounts by 2.
In this activity, you will double the recipe, halve the recipe, and triple the recipe. Sometimes you need to change the cooking
time when you increase or decrease a recipe, but sometimes you don’t. Since this recipe starts with a cold liquid, you will
need to increase the cooking time: because this can vary, it’s best to keep your eye on the milk to be sure it doesn’t burn
or boil over.
Practice changing the ricotta recipe for different numbers of servings:
Original Recipe
Double the recipe
Halve the recipe
Triple the recipe
2 quarts whole milk
Do you multiply or divide? multiply
Do you multiply or divide? Do you multiply or divide? By what number?
2
By what number?
By what number?
½ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons fresh lemon
juice or white vinegar
Makes: 2 cups
Result 8%
4 quarts whole milk
1 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons fresh lemon
juice or white vinegar
Makes: 4 cups
Show your work
www.chopchopmag.org
2x2=4
½x2=1
3x2=6
2x2=4
Cooking & Math 1/1
Synonyms
In this recipe, one of the leftover
products of making ricotta is
called whey. You can use the
whey instead of water when
cooking pasta or rice—this is
called a substitution.
When cooking, there are often
times when you might want
to substitute an ingredient for
something else. For example,
if you are allergic to peanuts,
you swap out (substitute) the
peanuts for another ingredient
that is very similar, like almonds!
There is a similar idea to
substitutions in the English
language: synonyms.
Synonyms are words that have almost the same or similar meanings. We use synonyms when we want to use the same
word without repeating ourselves.
Examples:
Make sure you close the refrigerator.
Make sure you shut the refrigerator.
Find the synonyms.
For this activity, draw a line to match the word in the left column with its synonym in the right column.
Photo: Carl Tremblay
1. chew
2. curdle
3. extras
4. make
5. fast
6. stir
7. save
8. enjoy
9. cool
10. crispy
www.chopchopmag.org
1. chilly
2. quick
3. mix
4. thicken, congeal
5. crunchy
6. leftovers
7. like
8. create
9. bite
10. keep
Cooking & English 1/2
Antonyms
Antonyms are words that mean the opposite of each other.
Examples:
Right/wrong Close/open
Happy/sad
For this activity, write the antonym next to the word.
1. Hot
cold
————————————
2. Hungry
————————————
3. Liquid
————————————
4. Wet
————————————
5. Raw
————————————
6. Soft
————————————
7. Multiply
————————————
8. Same
————————————
9. On
————————————
10. Increase
————————————
Bonus Challenge:
Choose 3 words and write a synonym and antonym for that word.
Word
Synonym
Antonym
1. Right CorrectWrong
2.
3.
4.
www.chopchopmag.org
Cooking & English (ELA) 2/2
How Does Milk Turn into Cheese?
By Vayu Maini Rekdal
While you probably know what cheese tastes and looks like, you might not be aware of the fascinating science that goes into
producing it. Look at ricotta cheese, for example. How can lemon juice transform the white liquid milk into a solid cheese and
watery whey?
Milk is made up of water, fat globules, lactose (a natural sugar found in milk), and a variety of proteins. Casein is the most
abundant of these proteins. In the liquid milk, casein molecules form small roundish clusters called micelles. These micelles
have negatively charged tails, which make them repel each other if they come in contact in the liquid milk.
However, when you add lemon juice or any acid to milk, things change. Acids contain positively charged particles called
protons (this is what makes acids sour). These positive charges neutralize the negative charges on the micelles, removing the
barrier that prevents them from sticking together. Vinegar is more acidic and has more protons than lemon juice, so this acid
will cause the micelles to clump together even more than the lemon juice.
Now, all the micelles can stick together and form a clump. This is the curd, or the ricotta cheese. The liquid that’s left behind is
the whey. Who knew chemistry could be so tasty?
Using the Homemade Ricotta recipe, draw your observations below.
Mixture before heating:
www.chopchopmag.org
Curdled mixture:
Strained mixture:
Kitchen Science 1/2
Bonus Experiment: Lemon vs. Vinegar
Compare and contrast the two batches.
Make two batches of Homemade Ricotta: one batch using lemon juice, and the other batch using vinegar.
Compare:
www.chopchopmag.org
How are they the same?
Contrast:
How are they different?
Kitchen Science 2 /2
History and Geography of Ricotta
Italy
Ricotta is estimated to have been made first in Sicily during the
Bronze Age, which was more than 4,000 years ago. Ricotta was
depicted in ancient illustrations and historical writings that mention
and show the process of making the tender cheese.
One famous story tells of a king and his hunting party who came
across the hut of a dairy farmer making ricotta. The group was
hungry and asked for some to eat. The farmer served them hot
ricotta on slices of bread and were advised to “cu’ non mancia ccu’
I Sicily
so’ cucchiaru lassa tutto ‘o zammataru” (Those who don’t eat with a
spoon will leave all their ricotta behind).
Ricotta is technically not a cheese but rather a creamy curd. The
word “ricotta” means “re-cooked.” The leftover hot whey can be
reheated (re-cooked) to make more cheese.
For this activity, brainstorm some types of cheeses that you enjoy eating.
Choose your favorite type of cheese and research its history.
1. What is the cheese called?
2. Does its name mean anything?
3. Where does it come from in the world? Can you identify this location on a map?
4. Is it made in a special way?
www.chopchopmag.org
Cooking & History 1/1
Adjusting a Recipe
Recipes are usually written to make a specific amount. The Homemade Ricotta recipe makes 1 ½ to 2 cups, but can change
depending on the acidity of the lemon or vinegar used.
For this activity, we will say that this recipe makes about 2 cups. Sometimes you will need to adjust, or change, a recipe so
that it can make a larger amount (to feed more people or use in a recipe that requires a larger amount).
You can use your math skills to change a recipe so that it will work better for what you need. You can halve a recipe (making
only ½ of it) by dividing all the ingredient amounts by 2 or you can double the recipe by multiplying all the ingredient
amounts by 2.
In this activity, you will double the recipe, halve the recipe, and triple the recipe. Sometimes you need to change the cooking
time when you increase or decrease a recipe, but sometimes you don’t. Since this recipe starts with a cold liquid, you will
need to increase the cooking time: because this can vary, it’s best to keep your eye on the milk to be sure it doesn’t burn or
boil over.
Practice changing the ricotta recipe for different numbers of servings:
Original Recipe
Double the recipe
Halve the recipe
Triple the recipe
2 quarts whole milk
Do you multiply or divide? multiply
Do you multiply or divide? divide
Do you multiply or divide? multiply
By what number?
2
By what number?
2
By what number?
3
½ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons fresh lemon
juice or white vinegar
Makes: 2 cups
Result
8%
6 quarts whole milk
Show your work
www.chopchopmag.org
4 quarts whole milk
1 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons fresh lemon
juice or white vinegar
1 quart whole milk
¼ teaspoon salt
1½ tablespoons fresh lemon
juice or white vinegar
Makes: 4 cups
Makes: 1 cups
2x2=4
½x2=1
3x2=6
2x2=4
2÷2=1
½÷2=¼
3÷2=1½
2÷2=1
1½ teaspoon salt
9 tablespoons fresh lemon
juice or white vinegar
Makes: 6 cups
2x3=6
½x3=1½
3x3=9
2x3=6
Cooking & Math 1/1
Synonyms
In this recipe, one of the leftover
products of making ricotta is
called whey. You can use the
whey instead of water when
cooking pasta or rice—this is
called a substitution.
When cooking, there are often
times when you might want
to substitute an ingredient for
something else. For example,
if you are allergic to peanuts,
you swap out (substitute) the
peanuts for another ingredient
that is very similar, like almonds!
There is a similar idea to
substitutions in the English
language: synonyms.
Synonyms are words that have almost the same or similar meanings. We use synonyms when we want to use the same
word without repeating ourselves.
Examples:
Make sure you close the refrigerator.
Make sure you shut the refrigerator.
Find the synonyms.
For this activity, draw a line to match the word in the left column with its synonym in the right column.
Photo: Carl Tremblay
1. chew
2. curdle
3. extras
4. make
5. fast
6. stir
7. save
8. enjoy
9. cool
10. crispy
www.chopchopmag.org
1. chilly
2. quick
3. mix
4. thicken, congeal
5. crunchy
6. leftovers
7. like
8. create
9. bite
10. keep
Cooking & English 1/2
Antonyms
Antonyms are words that mean the opposite of each other.
Examples:
Right/wrong Close/open
Happy/sad
For this activity, write the antonym next to the word.
1. Hot
cold
————————————
2. Hungry
full
————————————
3. Liquid
solid
————————————
4. Wet
dry
————————————
5. Raw
cooked
————————————
6. Soft
hard
————————————
7. Multiply
divide
————————————
8. Same
different
————————————
9. On
off
————————————
10. Increase
decrease
————————————
Bonus Challenge:
Choose 3 words and write a synonym and antonym for that word.
Word
Synonym
Antonym
1. Right CorrectWrong
2.
3.
4.
www.chopchopmag.org
Cooking & English (ELA) 2/2