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Writer's pictureMeagan Shahin

Exploring Science and Math Through Baking: A Homeschooler's Guide to Tasty Hands-On Multi-level Learning Curriculum

Updated: Sep 27


homeschool, homeschool curriculum, autistic homeschool, special needs homeschool, ADHD homeschool, homeschool sensory

Exploring Science and Math Through Baking: A Homeschooler's Guide to Tasty Hands-On Multi-level Learning


Are you looking for math and science homeschool lessons that stick like eggs to an ungreased pan? Let your kids explore your kitchen with hands on projects. Your kitchen doubles as your in home laboratory and the options are endless.... and delicious.


Exploring Science and Math Through Baking: A Homeschooler's Guide to Tasty Hands-On Multi-level Learning


Here is the Recipe that my kiddos bake every week-


homeschool, homeschool curriculum, autistic homeschool, special needs homeschool, ADHD homeschool, homeschool sensory

The Sweet Intersection of Math and Baking - Using Common Kitchen Utensils and Ingredients as Manipulatives to Illustrate Concepts in Multi-Level Homeschool Curriculum


Who knew that baking could be the secret ingredient to understanding math concepts? It's like a delicious math class where you can actually eat your homework! Kids up to age 9 or 10 need to see, touch, and move things around to wrap their heads around math and reading. After that, they level up to abstract thinking, but hey, who says you can't have your cake and eat it too? Keep using those measuring cups and spoons, even for the older kids - math is a piece of cake when you can see it rise in the oven!

Baking is the perfect recipe for kids to mix up some math magic, from measuring ingredients to playing around with recipe amounts. It's like a tasty math lab where they can experiment with fractions, proportions, and conversions - talk about a sweet deal! So, let's get cracking those eggs and measuring out the flour, sugar, blueberries, and flavor extracts - who knew math could be this deliciously fun!


My family loves the Netflix show, Nailed it! Using this inspiration, we get a giggle when we attempt to recreate recipes we find on Pinterest.



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Multi-Level Homeschool Math Curriculum that you can Teach Through Baking:

  • Basic Math Computations -

    Counting- Have children count ingredients as they are added to the recipe. For example, counting chocolate chips that will be added to cookies. Counting and grouping provides concrete understanding of numbers and sizes.


    Simple addition & Subtraction - Providing children with chocolate chips for example, is a great manipulative to demonstrate the changes in group sizes when adding or subtracting chocolate chips. This can occur quickly before measuring and incorporating these into the dough.


    Multiplication & Division- Pancakes is a great recipe to use for multiplying or dividing quantities, and observing the tangible outcome. For example, divide the number of pancakes among a group of people. Or, determining how to increase the ingredients to increase the number of pancakes created (practice multiplying the quantity of ingredients).


    Ratios & Proportions- Adjusting recipe quantities, requires the use of ratios and proportions to ensure ingredients maintain balance and the outcomes are still delicious. For example, if a recipe calls for 2 cups of flour and two cups of milk, they would multiply both sides of the ration by 2.

    homeschool, homeschool curriculum, autistic homeschool, special needs homeschool, ADHD homeschool, homeschool sensory

  • Fractions -

    Used for measuring, adjusting recipes, or doubling recipes, recipes are loaded with fractions. You can ask them to identify fractions, convert whole numbers to fractions, and even rewrite recipes with double the amount of ingredients.


  • Measurement -

    By using different tools such as spoons and cups for dry and liquid ingredients, you can discuss different units of measurement like cups, tablespoons, and ounces. You can demonstrate measuring techniques, use of a scale, and show that the volume of a pan can differ despite their shape. For example, the amount of batter that fits into a 9 in. pan versus a 10 in. pan.


  • Sequencing & Symmetry-

    Decorating cakes and cookies frequently incorporates the use of patterns, sequences, and symmetry. Discussing these while decorating is a fun way for kids to connect concrete application of sequencing and symmetry.


  • Time & Temperature-

    Baking time and temperature can greatly impact the outcome of your delicious project. Understanding the effects of time and temperature on the final color, crust, and moisture is a fun way for kids to understand the importance of these. You can also discuss with kids that other factors can affect baking like the air temperature of the room, water temperature, and humidity.





Reading Recipes: A Literary Feast


Incorporating baking into homeschooling not only enriches mathematical skills but also nurtures reading comprehension. Just like with math, children rely on images and items they can manipulate to provide concrete understanding. Hands on activities such as


Recipes become more than just instructions; they transform into literary works that students decipher and execute. The ability to follow step-by-step directions, understand the sequential order of tasks, and interpret new terminologies all contribute to enhancing reading skills through the medium of baking.



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Multi-Level Homeschool Science Curriculum -Incorporate Science with Hands on Projects


Turn your kitchen into a wild science lab! Experimenting with baking is like creating magic potions, but tastier!


For young learners, coming up with crazy hypotheses and conducting experiments might be a bit too much. But fear not! Baking is here to save the day with its delicious projects and hands-on fun. It's like playing with food while learning cool science stuff.


When you mix science with baking in your homeschool, you're in for a treat! Baking is flexible enough to engage learners of all ages and abilities, simultaneously.


Here are some scientific concepts you can sneak into your baking adventures:

  • Chemical Reactions

    Baking is basically a wizard's brew of chemical reactions - from yeast making bread puff up like a balloon to the Maillard reaction giving bread its crunchy crust. It's like a tasty science experiment!

  • Temperature and Timing

    Just like a master chef, baking is all about getting the right temperature and timing. It's like a baking dance where you need to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit like a baking pro!

  • States of Matter (Solid, Liquid, Gas)

    Baking is like a science lesson on solids, liquids, and gases all in one! Watch butter melt on a warm muffin and see vapors rise like magic from the oven. It's like a delicious science show!

  • Nutrition

    Who knew baking could be so educational? Talk about the nutritional value of ingredients - whole grain vs. white flour or sugar vs. splenda. It's like baking with a side of health class!

    homeschool, homeschool curriculum, autistic homeschool, special needs homeschool, ADHD homeschool, homeschool sensory

As you bake, ask your little scientists questions like: What did we use? What did we do? What happened? What did we learn? Why did the muffins turn into muffin rocks? Why do we measure ingredients? It's like a baking quiz show!


Understanding the science behind ovens is like unlocking a baking superpower! Convection ovens with their swirling heat are like magicians, while gas ovens are like speedy chefs. It's like choosing your baking superhero!


The fun and learning never end in the world of baking. So keep exploring and experimenting - the kitchen is your playground!


Practical Application of Concepts


One of the coolest things about baking lessons in homeschooling is that you get to see math and reading come to life in the kitchen! Forget boring textbooks – now you can learn about volume by mixing ingredients and expand your vocabulary with fancy culinary words. Baking isn't just about making tasty treats, it's a whole adventure in learning!


homeschool, homeschool curriculum, autistic homeschool, special needs homeschool, ADHD homeschool, homeschool sensory


Cultivating Creativity and Life Skills


Who knew that whipping up a batch of cookies could be the secret ingredient to a top-notch homeschool curriculum? By adding a sprinkle of baking into the mix, you're not just creating delicious treats, you're also stirring up a storm of creativity and life skills in your little ones. From mixing flavors to playing with textures and decorating like a pro, baking is the ultimate recipe for thinking outside the cookie jar and unleashing those wild imaginations. And let's not forget the invaluable life lessons of discipline, patience, and precision that come with every perfectly baked cake - these skills are like the frosting on top, spreading their sweetness far beyond the kitchen walls!


Exploring New Foods for Learners with Food Aversions or Sensory Sensitivities


Who knew that baking could be the secret ingredient to homeschooling success? By getting your hands dirty in the flour and sugar, you're not just making delicious treats - you're also giving those picky eaters a crash course in texture, smell, and taste! It's like a culinary adventure right in your kitchen.


But wait, there's more! Baking isn't just about sensory overload. It's a boot camp for those little fingers, honing their mixing, kneading, and decorating skills. Who knew that following a recipe could turn into a reading and sequencing masterclass? And don't even get me started on the math and science magic happening in that oven!


And the best part? Baking together is like a team-building exercise on steroids. It's like the Avengers coming together to save the day, except with cupcakes. Bonding, communication, and shared victory - it's a recipe for homeschooling harmony.


So, grab your aprons and spatulas, because baking is not just a treat for your taste buds - it's the ultimate homeschooling hack for happy learners and proud chefs-in-training!


A Recipe for Family Bonding


homeschool, homeschool curriculum, autistic homeschool, special needs homeschool, ADHD homeschool, homeschool sensory

Forget textbooks and lectures, baking is the secret sauce for turning your family into a well-oiled machine! It's not just about making yummy treats, it's about creating epic memories that will go down in history. So, grab your aprons, gather your troops, and let the flour fly! Together, you'll whip up a storm of deliciousness that will bond you for life.


Who needs boring old school lessons when you can have a kitchen adventure? Baking is the ultimate multitasking guru, teaching you math, reading, and the art of not burning down the house all at once. So, get ready to mix, measure, and munch your way to academic greatness! It's time to bake up a storm and sprinkle some knowledge on your homeschool curriculum. Let the oven be your teacher and the cookies be your reward. Happy baking and bon appétit!



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homeschool, homeschool curriculum, autistic homeschool, special needs homeschool, ADHD homeschool, homeschool sensory









homeschool, homeschool curriculum, autistic homeschool, special needs homeschool, ADHD homeschool, homeschool sensory









homeschool, homeschool curriculum, autistic homeschool, special needs homeschool, ADHD homeschool, homeschool sensory














homeschool, homeschool curriculum, autistic homeschool, special needs homeschool, ADHD homeschool, homeschool sensory

Multi-Level Homeschool Curriculum through Baking

Multi-Level Homeschool Curriculum through Baking

Multi-Level Homeschool Curriculum through Baking

Multi-Level Homeschool Curriculum through Baking

Multi-Level Homeschool Curriculum through Baking

Multi-Level Homeschool Curriculum through Baking

Multi-Level Homeschool Curriculum through Baking

Multi-Level Homeschool Curriculum through Baking

Multi-Level Homeschool Curriculum through Baking

Multi-Level Homeschool Curriculum through Baking

Multi-Level Homeschool Curriculum through Baking

Multi-Level Homeschool Curriculum through Baking

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