Oak Hill Elementary 3rd Grade Students Prepare a Feast

The third grade students at Oak Hill Elementary (OHE) participated in a cross-curricular service learning project where they prepared a feast for approximately 200 students and staff this week. Mrs. Keller, OHE School Counselor, organized the event with Director of Food and Nutrition Missy Ortman, and the 3rd grade OHE teachers. The menu for the feast consisted of

• Chicken Pot Pie
• Tossed Salad
• Green Beans
• Mixed Fruit
• Pumpkin Bars

Learning lessons were incorporated around each day of food prepping.  Students learned about food safety, learned and practiced different units of measurement for cooking, how to read a recipe and figure out how much of each ingredient they will need, and where some of their ingredients come from. 

• Prep day 1 - Biscuits for the Chicken Pot Pie
• Prep day 2 - Pumpkin Bars
• Prep day 3 - Chicken Pot Pie
• Prep day 4 - Tossed Salad

Each prep day included proper hand washing, gloves, hairnets, aprons and good listening skills. Each 3d grade student had a role in preparing some portion of the feast. Whether it was measuring dry or wet ingredients with measuring spoons, cups or even a scale, the students learned the importance of precise measuring, following recipes, and working together. 

The cook staff at Oak Hill was very supportive and helped with additional prep and cooking for the student feast.  At the feast on Friday, the 3rd grade students sat with 2nd grade students and enjoyed conversation starters centered around student made centerpieces that prompted thought provoking questions around food.