Through a new program at Our Lady of the Elms, middle school students are learning the skills they need to prepare meals. Our Lady of the Elms teacher Kelli Hohenadel said the program began this past fall and came about as a follow-up to the Elms Farm, an overarching program at the middle school. She said the Elms Farm started with chickens and goats and is now in its second phase, which focuses on growing hydroponic produce.
Hohenadel said all sixth-through-eighth middle school students are involved in the Elms Eats program, and students are on a five-week rotation participating in it during their activity period.
"The class is not just about cooking, it's about learning to follow instructions and the math skills needed to weigh and measure to follow recipes," Hohenadel said. "When students cook food that requires extended cooking time, we adjust their schedule so the girls can enjoy their creations before the end of the day. Additionally, it's about being resourceful and being empowered to learn life skills that have been forgotten or overlooked."
The curriculum focuses on foundational cooking skills and on basic recipes for desserts and breakfast foods such as eggs and French toast. Following the student's holiday break, Hohenadel said students will cultivate lettuce and herbs using a tower garden, enabling the creation of the student's own foods.
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