Caribbean Feast Cooking
Special Foods & Decorations
25 minutes
Small groups of 4-6 children
Learning Objectives
- Learn about traditional Caribbean celebration foods
- Practice social skills through cooperative play
- Develop vocabulary related to food and cooking
- Experience cultural traditions through play
Step-by-Step Instructions
- 1Talk about special foods eaten during Caribbean celebrations
- 2Put on aprons and choose cooking roles
- 3Pretend to prepare traditional dishes like rice and peas, plantains
- 4Practice cooking movements (stirring, chopping, mixing)
- 5Set table for Caribbean feast
- 6Pretend to eat together as family
- 7Clean up kitchen together
- 8Share what foods they 'cooked'
Assessment Criteria
- ✓Child engages in pretend cooking activities
- ✓Child uses cooking vocabulary appropriately
- ✓Child cooperates well in group play
- ✓Child shows interest in Caribbean foods
Materials Needed
- Play kitchen items
- Pretend tropical fruits (mango, coconut, banana)
- Mixing bowls and spoons
- Colorful aprons
- Play food representing Caribbean dishes
- Plates and cups
Preparation
- •Set up dramatic play kitchen area
- •Arrange pretend Caribbean foods
- •Prepare simple recipe cards with pictures
- •Have aprons ready for children
Teaching Tips
- 💡Introduce simple Caribbean food names
- 💡Model appropriate kitchen safety
- 💡Encourage sharing and cooperation
- 💡Connect to children's family food traditions
Extension Activities
- +Invite families to share Caribbean recipes
- +Create class cookbook of celebration foods
- +Taste safe Caribbean fruits if available
- +Learn about where Caribbean foods come from
Key Vocabulary
cooking
feast
Caribbean
rice
plantain
mango
coconut
family