Ways to extend learning in the mud kitchen
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated April 10, 2024
Today is my third post in my series on Mud Kitchens. In my last posts I talked about what Mud Kitchens are, and why they are such engaging teaching tools for outdoor exploration. I also talked all about a fun recipe writing activity our class completed. I have linked the previous posts at the bottom of this one – scroll down to read more! Today I am going to share some fun ways to extend learning in the Mud Kitchen. I hope I can inspire you to take your learners outside to explore!
For no-prep resources to help you extend your outdoor learning time, check out all of the outdoor learning resources available in my TPT shop by clicking on the image or button below!
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Mud Kitchen Recipe Writing
My 2/3 group has been having so much fun in the Mud Kitchen this week. This unseasonably beautiful weather has us all itching to get outside, and I am so grateful to have this fun outdoor space to explore.
As I mentioned in previous posts about our Mud Kitchen experiences, our school was lucky enough to have an extremely generous and artsy volunteer build us a Mud Kitchen near our playground last spring. It quickly became a favourite play and learning space for both our primary and intermediate learners.
Earlier in the week my 2/3 group got their hands dirty by writing and mixing up their own Mud Kitchen recipe cards. We put our recipes together in a class book to share with other classes. You can read all about our recipe writing here.
For additional writing activities to inspire your learners, check out our posts on descriptive writing and the RACE writing strategy!
For more fun outdoor learning opportunities, check out our posts on outdoor sit spots, Earth Day math, and Place-Based Learning!
What are some ways we can extend our learning in the Mud Kitchen?
-Colorful creations: Looking for ideas to make your mud kitchen recipes pop? Add a bit of powdered paint or chalk to the mud while you are mixing! I usually like to go for more earthy colors, but adding a large amount of ground up side walk chalk can really make some brilliant recipes!
-Bubbling Potions: Bring some science into the Mud Kitchen by making recipes that fizz and bubble! Mix one part baking soda and one part mud in a shallow dish. Pour or squirt a cup or so of vinegar on top, and watch your recipes bubble! This gets extra exciting when you add some powdered chalk or paint in bright colors, as mentioned above.
-Make Play Food: Collect rocks and paint or Modge Podge images of food on the tops. Be sure to spray with acrylic sealer when you are done, to make them durable. These make fun additions to Mud Kitchen recipes! My 2/3 group made some of these, and left them outside as a random act of kindness for our younger learners to share.
-Grow an Herb Garden: If your outdoor kitchen is in a sunny spot, a few pots of herbs make a fun addition. You can have your kiddos grow these from seeds, or pick a few plants up from the garden store for them to plant in colorful pots. Herbs like mint, lavender, and rosemary can make your recipes smell delightful!
-Add a Seating Area: A few stumps can easily be transformed into a restaurant, cafe, or bakery. This opens up a lot of imaginative role playing opportunities for both younger and older kiddos.
-Encourage Donations: Ask parents and staff to donate any gently used kitchen items they may be getting rid of. Adding new items to Mud Kitchen on a regular basis helps bring the magic back to this play space, as they kids come up with new and engaging ways to explore.
I really hope these ideas help you bring life back to your Mud Kitchen adventures! Do you have an outdoor Mud Kitchen? I would love to know all about your ideas and experiences! Tell me all about it in the comment section!
Where can I purchase materials to create my own Mud Kitchen?
Amazon has a wide variety of pre-made mud kitchen accessories – click on the button below to check them out!
Looking for more information on Mud Kitchens?
Check out some of my previous posts.
Wednesday Wander #2 – Mud Kitchen Recipe Writing
What is a Mud Kitchen? – Learning Through Play
Looking for SOME NO PREP ACTIVITIES TO USE IN THE MUD KITCHEN?
Pop on over to my TPT store and pick up this engaging outdoor education activity! It contains print and go recipe cards, as well as templates and graphic organizers for your students to write their own recipes, grocery lists, and menus!
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