Materials
The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone
soft wheat berries
hand wheat grinder or coffee mill
empty jar
bowl
measuring cups and spoons
yeast packages
honey
warm water
white flour
oil
salt
baking pans
oven
Instructions
1. Tell the story of The Little Red Hen. Tell it again but change the ending so
that the little red hen shares the bread. Talk about sharing with the
children.
2. Over a few days, let the children take turns grinding wheat berries into
flour. Put the flour into a jar.
3. Make 12 small loaves (rolls, actually) for children to bring home to share
with their families, and two small loaves for the children to share at snack
time. Double the recipe, if needed, so that everyone can bring a small
loaf home.
4. Add yeast and honey to warm water and let bubble.
6. Mix 4 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (from the wheat berries), 4 cups white
flour, 2 teaspoons salt, and 2 tablespoons oil. Add to the yeast mixture.
7. Mix. Divide into 12 rolls and two loaves. Sprinkle a mound of flour in
front of each child. Encourage them to knead their rolls by pressing with
the heels of their hands and folding the dough over.
8. Shape and let rise 15 minutes. Brush with milk and bake for 25 minutes.
9. Let children take home their own loaves to share with their families.
More to do More Snack and Cooking: Make butter. Fill a jar half full with whipping
cream. Demonstrate how to shake the jar safely. Let children take turns
shaking it. Invite them to listen for a change in the sound and watch for a
change in the color. When it turns to butter, paddle it to remove the liquid.
Shape and refrigerate.
