CLA 2012 Summer Reading Training Workshop Make Your Own Cookbook
Cooking is a skill that helps children learn to read, do math, and organize their work logically. Materials: • 8 ½” x 11” paper, 2-­‐4 sheets per book • 8 ½” x 11” cardstock, construction, or regular colored paper, 1 sheet per book, for the cover • Small rubber bands, 1 per book • Pencils, twigs, coffee stirrers, popsicle sticks, etc., 1 per book • Hole puncher • Pre-­‐printed recipes, 3-­‐4 per book • Glue sticks • Markers, 1 pack for every 4 participants • Colored pencils, 1 pack for every 4 participants • Glue sticks, 1 per participant • Scissors, 1 pair per participant • Things to decorate the cookbooks: food magazines and decoupage glue for collage, stickers, die cut pieces, etc. Rubber Band Book Binding Instructions: 1. Fold 2-­‐4 sheets of 8 ½” x 11” paper in half hamburger style. 2. Fold one sheet of cover paper in half hamburger style. 3. Place the 2-­‐4 folded sheets inside the fold of the cover sheet. 4. Use the hole puncher to punch two holes along the edge of the folded side. 5. Poke a rubber band through the top hole, back to front. 6. Insert the stick into the top loop of the rubber band. 7. Bring the other end of the rubber band through the bottom hole, back to front. 8. Insert the other end of the stick into the bottom loop of the rubber band. Tips: v This binding is easy to undo and redo, so participants can add more pages later. v Consider hole punching the paper before the craft, as this will allow more time for creativity. v For the cover or title page, have the participants answer a question about food. This creates a theme for each cookbook, as well as the project as a whole. v Remind participants to bring their own favorite recipes from home. v Make sure to provide recipes for a variety of diets, such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, sugar free, etc. v Also be sure to credit the cookbook author or source of the recipes provided. v Design the program so it is sensitive to children from food insecure homes or situations. Be conscious of the cost of ingredients used, equipment needed. v Provide snacks, because thinking about delicious recipes will make everyone hungry!