Materials
Large clean plastic bucket Warm water3 packets yeast 1 cup (250 ml) honey
Measuring cups and spoons Salt5 lbs. (2.5 kg) whole wheat flour Large mixing spoons
Marker
Newsprint paper (not newspaper!)Butter at room temperature
Oven
Metal coffee tins: three 3-lb. (1 1/2 kg) tins, four 2-lb. tins (1 kg) and six 1 1/2 -lb. tins (750 gm), or a mixture2-3 cups (500-750 ml) of wheat germ, sunflower seeds or nuts
Recipe written on large paper with pictures so the children can "read" it as they make the bread (also called a rebus)
Instructions
1. Ask the children to measure into a large plastic bucket: 2 quarts (2 L) warm water, 3 packets yeast, 1 cup honey, then mix. Explain that this is the "magical mixture" that will make their bread grow. Let them smell the mixture.
2. Measure and mix in 3 tablespoons (45 ml) of salt and the sunflower seeds, nuts, wheat germ or whatever you decide to add to your bread.
3. Add enough whole wheat flour to make this a stiff dough. The children will be able to do all but the mixing at the end when the dough becomes too stiff. Mark the level of the dough on the outside of the bucket with a marker, cover it with a lid or some newsprint and put the bucket in a sink of hot water. The dough will rise in 30 minutes to one hour.
4. Check to see how the magic yeast has made the dough grow.
5. Ask the children to wash, then flour, their hands. Put the dough out on floured newsprint in handfuls for the children to knead. Keep their hands floured and demonstrate for them how to knead.
6. Butter the coffee tins and divide the dough among them.
7. Cover the tins and put them in hot water in the sink for 15 to 20 minutes. The dough should rise to the top but not over the edges.
8. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for about one hour.
9. Enjoy the warm bread for an afternoon snack.More to doMore cooking: If available, arrange some dried wheat stalks from a field in a decorative container in the classroom. * Get grains of wheat from a health food store and grind some in a blender to show where the flour comes from.Sing this song to the tune of "This Is the Way We Wash Our Clothes."This is the way we mix our bread, mix our bread, mix our bread (stir with spoon). This is the way we mix our bread so early (Monday) morning.This is the way our bread rises up (squat down and grow the way the bread does)...This is the way we knead our bread (make exaggerated kneading motions)...This is the way our bread rises up...Our bread goes in the oven to bake.This is the way we eat our bread....
