Applied Math Camp

Recipes

On the first day, the students come to a consensus about the snacks they will make each day of the week. Consensus takes time and negotiation. Children present needs and reasons. They work together to create a menu that meets everyone’s needs.

They build fractional models and use them to modify recipes to fit the group size. If a recipe makes 4 servings and there are six students, they convert the ingredients to serve 6, 12, 9, 3, or even 1. The gallon of lemonade ingredients are converted to 1/2 gallon, 1/4 gallon, and even individual glasses, so each student can make his/her beverage. After this, they can create their own favorite lemonade recipe- taking time to test, modify, and retest.

The children explore what makes a gallon - four quarts, eight pints, 16 cups, 128 oz., as it is used to help them with other recipes.

Using their self-made measurement equivalent charts, they figure out if they have enough Nutella in a 2.2 pound jar to make Puppy Chow for the entire group with each person getting an 8 ounces serving.

There are other fractional explorations, like why is 7/4 the same as 1 3/4. They spend time exploring the comparison and time proving it. They explore adding fractions with and without like denominators. Yes, the rising first graders successfully explore this concept because they build models to make meaning. 

Beyond the math, they learn about cooking tools, like oven mitts, measuring cups, measuring spoons, mixers, ovens. They also learn which tools to use and how to stir vs. whip, simmer vs. boil, and bake vs. broil. 

Some recipes made at Applied Math Camp have been:

Cherry or Apple Pie      Chex Mix          Mug Cakes        Spookies (Spinach cookies)                                            

Brazilian Cheese Bread      Sprownie (spinach brownies) Noodles with butter & cheese Chocolate Covered Bananas                         

Chocolate Noodles (Yuck) Puppy Chow Pizza Dough Cinnamon Rolls Chocolate or Coconut Poke Cake 

Yogurt Buttons Stir fry Nutella & Banana Wraps                                                

GLUTEN-FREE/ VEGAN

Lemonade by the Glass and Gallon Fruit Roll-Ups Frozen Fruit Pops Smoothie 

Cauliflower with Tahini & Pistachios Vegan Puppy Chow Spicy Popcorn Watermelon Sorbet 

Watermelon Agua Fresca Vegan Chex Mix Almond Coconut Granola Bars Sweet Corn and Coconut Popsicles         

Lime Coconut Parfait Spring Rolls