Fun with Character: We Are Cake!
Find a picture of a whole cake that fills an 11 x 17 sheet of paper. Cut out just the cake and then cut it into as many puzzle pieces as you have students in the classroom. The pieces do not have to be the same size or shape. On the back of each piece, write a part of the ingredients. For example, if the recipe calls for 2 cups of flour, you can divide it into portions that add up to the total needed. Do this for all the ingredients so that if everything written on the back were combined, it would be the batter to make a cake. You will want to have the pieces outlined on another sheet and have the ingredient name written on each outlined section so they can find their place. Pass out the pieces so that the words are visible to each student. If your picture is a light background, you can have the students write their names on the front (picture side). Ask all those who have flour to stand. Ask them if flour tastes like cake. Of course, the answer is No. Have those students put their puzzle pieces on the second sheet. You may want to use a glue stick to stick the puzzle pieces together. Now ask all those who have the baking powder to stand. Ask them if baking powder tastes like cake. Do this for all the ingredients until the cake is assembled. Assemble the puzzle with the cake picture side visible. If a student is out, make sure they get to add their piece to the puzzle when they return.
When finished, process the activity with these or similar questions:
Was it fun to bake a cake together like this?
Would you want to eat just flour?
Would you want to eat cake? (All the ingredients together are much better!)
What would happen if we left one of the ingredients out?
Will this activity help you remember that you are an important part of the groups you are in?
Final thought: Mixing a cake’s ingredients is like all the students in the classroom working together. If somebody consistently forgets their homework or supplies, it affects the class just like too much baking powder or too little sugar will affect the cake.
Here is a recipe for a cake from scratch.
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/4 cups whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups buttercream frosting