We’re Cooking with S.T.E.A.M!

S.T.E.A.M is the most interesting way to cook!

 

• What happened when the Chef tried to catch a handful of steam? They mist.
• ​​​​​​​What do you get when you put a bodybuilder in a sauna? Steamed mussels!
• What do you call a book about hot beverages? A novel-TEA
• What happens if you inhale too much steam? It is a big mist-ache.

When we teach kids to cook, we give them practical kitchen skills that can last a lifetime – that alone is a tremendous gift. But cooking also provides fun, low-pressure, real-world opportunities for kids to apply the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (S.T.E.A.M.) concepts they’re learning in school. 

What’s especially great about cooking is that it authentically integrates all these skills in one activity. Whether you’re measuring ingredients, operating an Instant Pot, stacking sushi roll ingredients, plating a meal, or scaling a recipe, you’re switching among all the S.T.E.A.M. skills. And it’s not just the skills you’re practicing, but also the different ways of thinking. The kitchen, after all, is a place for problem-solving, innovation, creative/critical thinking, and collaboration.

So, how, exactly, can you connect the dots for kids? Here’s an example for young children: 

Demonstrate that ice, liquid, and steam are three different states of water and that you can change from one state to another simply by changing its temperature. Set a skillet on medium heat and add an ice cube to it. See the ice cube’s transformation from solid (ice) to liquid (water) to gas (steam)! Boom!

For more inspiration and tips on reinforcing academic skills in the kitchen, check out these posts on

• science
• math
• art

Are your kids into TikTok? Yeah. Mine too.

Check out all of our STEAM Related TikTok Videos!

Science

• Cinnamon Fro-Yo - mentions how salt lowers the freezing temperature
• Egg-cellent Experiment - rubber egg
• Loco Coco Experiment - hydrophobic substances
• Break the Tension Experiment - surface tension
• Fizzy Water Science Experiment - floating raisins + buoyancy
• DIY Lava Lamp
• Emulsion Science Experiment w/ Chef Dylan - density

Technology

• Cottage Cheese Hack - immersion blender as a tool
• DIY Stamp Art - food scraps as tools
• Homemade Ricotta Cheese w/ Chef Dylan - cheesecloth as a tool!
• Magnificent Minty Iced Cucumber Muddler - muddler as a tool

Engineering

• Origami Veggie Pouch
• Herbaceous Play Dough
• Family Nacho Bar - encourages your kids to engineer their own “nacho dividers” on a baking sheet!​​​​​​​

Art

• Edible Art - Penguin Snacks
• Editable Art - Springtime Butterflies and Caterpillars Snacks
• Pancake Art
• Outdoor Paint Party with Herbs
• Sidewalk Chalk Paint

Math

• How to Reinforce Fractions at Home - with mandarin oranges
• Make Math Fun + Yummy w/ Chef Alli

Are you looking for a fun way to sneak positive academic reinforcements into your kid’s summer?

Sticky Fingers Cooking offers a Mon-Thurs, half-day camp where kids concoct colorful creations and explore the science behind some of their favorite foods. Learn more about our S.T.E.A.M. summer cooking camp here!