Growing Vegetable Soup

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In April 2014, the 2-year-old Giving Tree Class explored how plants grow.  The theme began by discussing the importance of helping our soil become strong by composting.  Because the class was confused about how composting makes soil healthier, we read the book Compost Stew by Mary McKenna Siddals.  Once the children had a better understanding for why composting is important, the children began saving their leftover fruits, vegetables and other scraps from lunch and snack and placed them in our green classroom compost bucket.  At the end of each day two children went to the Gan Shalom (Garden of Peace) to distribute our collection to the school compost bin.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next, we read the book Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Elhert.  The children were mesmerized to discover that some of the foods they eat start out as "little, tiny seeds".  Because enjoying a healthy lifestyle is a large focus at Temple Emanuel, the children are encouraged to bring nutrient rich foods for lunch and snack.  During lunch, each child explored their meal and found foods that had grown in the Earth!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each month, The Giving Tree class visits our school kitchen for a Culinary Arts class.  Prior to their April visit, the Giving Tree teachers spoke to Cheryl, the Culinary Arts instructor, and told her that after reading the book Growing Vegetable Soup, the children wanted to make vegetable soup of their own.  Cheryl complied a variety of fresh vegetables, some from our own Gan Shalom, such as carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn and kale.  The children immersed themselves in shucking, chopping, shredding and peeling the vegetables for our soup.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once the soup was ready, the children could not wait to taste it!