7 Great Resources for: Young Chefs
Want to make cooking a regular part of your homeschool routine? These resources will help your kids get hands-on in the kitchen.
curriculum: Raddish
Get a kitchen science lesson plan every week when you sign up for Raddish’s cooking club, which also includes a monthly subscription box with a cooking project based around a theme—past boxes have included “Ticket to Japan” and “Food Is Art.” (MasterChef Junior fans will want to note that the creator is a MasterChef Junior safety advisor.)
book: On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen
Every chef needs a copy of Harold McGee’s classic on food science—and while scholarly, this tome is engaging enough to be a readaloud for kids who are really interested in food and cooking.
show: Good Eats
Alton Brown takes a scientific (and often hilarious) approach to cooking in this television series. Follow up each show by cooking one of the included recipes.
online classes: America’s Test Kitchen Cooking School
It may not be the cheapest option, but the America’s Test Kitchen online cooking school is definitely one of the most comprehensive. When kids are ready to tackle projects like making brioche or putting together a Mexican feast, these classes will walk them through the process, step by step.
game: Foodie Fight
Some of the questions in this food trivia game will stump even the most food savvy player, but older kids with a passion for food will appreciate the challenge.
book: Cooking with Children: 15 Lessons for Children, Age 7 and Up, Who Really Want to Learn to Cook
Cook your way through Marion Cunningham’s beginner cookbook with your student, and he’ll master kitchen skills and classic recipes in the process.
tool: Curious Chef knives
Older kids can jump right in with the real thing, but if you’re nervous handing your chef’s knife to your kindergartener, pick up a set of these kid-safe knives.
Rebecca loves the nerdy grammar fun of Michael Clay Thompson’s Language Arts. It may not be for everyone, but it’s definitely for word lovers.
“A Community Conversation to Understand the U.S. Constitution” was a profound and powerful experience for Carrie’s homeschool.
Do you want to teach your kids science, or do you want to teach them how to think like scientists? Rebecca Pickens has the scoop on an elementary to middle school program that lets you do both.
Project-Based Learning: Creating Modern Education of Curiosity, Innovation, and Impact is a great resource for homeschool parents looking to make project-based learning part of their families’ learning lives.
In our history cycle, 8th grade is all about Africa’s history and literature — plus some physics for fun.
Online classes can be a big boom for homeschoolers — but they can be a real bust, too. Here’s what you need to know to find the classes that are best for your homeschool.
World history is fascinating — so shouldn’t your high school history book be interesting, too?
Art history is one of those extras that can wait indefinitely on your “as-soon-as-we-find-some-time” list. If you’re tired of waiting to dig into the world’s creative history, these curricula will help you make art history part of your regular routine now.
I love that four-year history rotation — but I also love learning about people who aren’t rich white men. Here’s a year-by-year guide to how we cover history, literature, and science in our homeschool.
Shelli reviews a vocabulary program that’s designed to help middle and high school students boost their vocabulary — by going beyond memorizing word lists and mastering the nuances of adding new language to their repertoire. (Plus, we’ve got a special coupon code for you!)
Get the scoop on year two of our complete high school curriculum!
Shelli reviews a beginner’s Chinese curriculum that’s working well for her 6th and 3rd grader.
Forget alternative facts and deal with actual science: Rebecca Pickens reviews The Science of Climate Change, a hands-on curriculum that tackles one of science’s most important issues.
People have strong feelings about this step-by-step reading program, but it worked great for Shelli's family.
Kids who love crime shows will love the chance to dig into real forensic science and you can't beat the price on this free science program, but be aware that lab work requires a lot of specialized equipment and there are some careless errors you'll want to keep an eye out for.
Amy Sharony is the founder and editor-in-chief of home | school | life magazine. She's a pretty nice person until someone starts pluralizing things with apostrophes, but then all bets are off.
AMY SHARONY is the founder and editor-in-chief of home | school | life magazine. She's a pretty nice person until someone starts pluralizing things with apostrophes, but then all bets are off.