Session 11
Fantastic fish
Session overview:
The aim of this session is to help children understand
that are lots of different types of fish which can be used
to make a variety of dishes. The main activity, ‘Have a
go’, involves learning how to prepare a simple dish
called ‘seaside salad’ based on a prawn cocktail. The ‘Consolidate’ activity involves
children ‘fishing’ to catch fish for different dishes.
Healthy eating messages
Cooking focus
Eating fish helps us grow.
Name four different types of fish.
Oily fish can help keep our heart healthy,
e.g. salmon, mackerel.
Name four different fish dishes.
We should eat fish twice a week, one of
which should be oily.
Make a simple fish dish by mixing, dividing
and spooning.
Listen and respond
Before the session, print a copy of the Fish dish cards, Labels sheet and either the Fish
photographs or Fish illustrations (based on which you feel is most appropriate for your
children). Cut out the six fish dishes, four fish images and the labels. You may wish to
laminate these for durability. If children will be undertaking the ‘Consolidate’ activity,
see the ‘Consolidate’ activity for information about the resources needed.
Explain to the children that they will be learning about fish.
Question the children:
What dishes made from fish have you eaten? (i.e. main meals)
Have you eaten any of these fish dishes? (Show the Fish dish cards - fish cakes,
fish fingers, paella, mackerel pâté, prawn cocktail, tuna sandwich.)
What is your favourite fish dish?
Do you know any of the names of the different types of fish used to make
these meals? For example, cod, prawns, mackerel or salmon.
Show the four fish images – salmon, cod, mackerel and prawn.
Show the fish one at a time.
Ask the children to describe what the fish looks like, e.g. colour, shape.
Ask the children if they can name the fish.
Tell children the name of the fish and match the correct label to each one.
Ask the children if they can name a dish made with each fish. They can look
at the Fish dish cards images to help. Note: fish fingers are most commonly
made from white fish such as cod. In this case, the fish fingers are made from
salmon.
Explain that fish is prepared before it is eaten. Usually, the head, tail, skin and bones
are removed, although sometimes fish is cooked whole. Point to the fish images and
show the part of the fish we usually eat (the middle area).
Explain that fish is good for us and we should try to eat it twice a week. It helps us to
grow. Some fish are oily and this is good for our heart. Oily fish is darker in colour, like
© Food – a fact of life 2012
salmon and mackerel. We should try to eat one type of oily fish each week and one
other type of fish, such as white fish or shellfish.
Have a go
Prepare the seaside salad ingredients according to the recipe. Organise the
children into groups of four. Each group can take turns to work with an adult to
make a ‘Splendid seaside salad’. Remember to ensure the children have followed
all the steps to make sure they are ready to cook, e.g. apron on, hands washed
(refer to Session 1 Super smoothie for details). Remember, you should check with
parents/carers if children have any intolerances, allergies or religious/cultural reasons
for not being able to handle or eat the ingredients you intent to use. Allow the
children to mix, divide and spoon the mixture into the lettuce leaves.
Consolidate
This activity is for four children. You will need:
• 4 x Fish dish game boards (there are two on a sheet).
• 2 x sets of Fish photographs (or illustrations) with the fish cut out so there are
eight fish in total.
• 8 x paperclips
• 16 x counters
• A ruler, string and a magnet - to create a fishing rod.
• A bucket or similar container.
X 2 of each fish
X 4 boards
Attach a paperclip to each fish. Create a fishing rod by attaching string to a ruler,
stick or a similar object which can be used as a rod. Tie the magnet to the end of
the string. Place the eight fish into the container, e.g. bucket. Give each child a
board. The aim of the activity is for the children to take it in turns to ‘go fishing’ by
dangling the rod into the container to try and ‘catch’ a fish. Once they have
caught a fish, they must name it and say which dish on the board they can make
with the fish. If they are correct, they can cover the dish with a counter. If they are
wrong, the dish cannot be covered. The fish must then be returned to the container.
If children catch more than one fish at a time, they may choose one from those
caught and return the rest. The first to catch the correct fish to make all the dishes on
their board is the winner.
At home
Make a copy of the ‘At home’ sheet for each of the children. Explain to the children
that next time they go food shopping with an adult they can search for the fish to
make different dishes.
Pre 3
Play the fishing game from the ‘Consolidate’ activity but omit the part where
children match the fish to the dish. Simply allow the children to ‘catch’ the fish
and teach them what each one is called. Task them to catch a particular
fish, e.g. try and catch a mackerel.
Make different fish based dishes for snacks and meal times (e.g. mackerel
pâté on toast, seaside salad) and discuss what they are made from and how
they taste.
© Food – a fact of life 2012
Splendid seaside salad
Ingredients
100g cooked pasta shells
2 x 15ml spoon sweetcorn, canned
100g frozen prawns (defrosted)
2 x 15ml spoon low fat mayonnaise
1 x 15ml spoon reduced salt and sugar tomato ketchup
1-2 baby gem lettuce, leaves separated and washed
Equipment
Weighing scales, 15ml spoon, small bowl, 2 mixing spoon, 1 plate.
Method
1. Mix the pasta shells, sweetcorn, prawns, mayonnaise and
tomato ketchup together
2. Spoon the mixture into the leaves.
3. Serve.
Handy hints
Explain to young children that the salad represent the
seaside: lettuce=seaweed, sweetcorn =sand, pasta = shells.
Why not make the lettuce leaves into boats? Use a cocktail
stick and strips of cucumber!
Why not add some dill to your salad? Simply tear some small
sprigs of fresh dill and add to the mixture – delicious!
Makes 4-6
© Food – a fact of life 2012
Fish dish cards
Prawn cocktail
Salmon fish fingers
‘Seaside salad’
Mackerel pâté (on toast)
Tuna sandwich
Cod fish cake
Paella
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Fish dish game boards
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Mackerel
Cod
Salmon
Prawn
Labels
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Fish photographs
Salmon
Cod
Mackerel
Prawn
© Food – a fact of life 2012
Fish illustrations
Salmon
Cod
Mackerel
Prawn
© Food – a fact of life 2012
At home
Dear parent/carer
Today we have been learning that are lots of different types
of fish which can be used to make a variety of dishes. We
have learnt that we should try to eat fish twice a week.
Here are some of the fish dishes we have been learning
about. Next time you are shopping for food with your child, see if they can
find the fish for these dishes. Note: children have been learning about salmon fish
fingers although cod is more commonly used to make fish fingers purchased from the
shops.
Fish dish
Find the…
Seaside
salad
Prawns
Salmon fingers
Salmon
Mackerel pate
Smoked mackerel
Tuna sandwich
Tuna
© Food – a fact of life 2012
Colour a fish when
you find the fish for
the dish!