Mrs. Taylor’s Africa-themed topic day had Year 2 pupils cooking Jollof Rice and Somali flatbread while exploring African culture, geography, and cuisine. Here’s a peek at their fun learning experience!
A Taste of Africa: Year 2’s Themed Topic Day
Mrs. Taylor recently hosted a fantastic Africa-themed topic day for a group of enthusiastic Year 2 pupils. These topic days serve as a brilliant way to introduce new themes, providing a fun and engaging “hook” to get students excited about their learning journey. As part of the day’s activities, the Year 2 class made Jollof Rice and flatbread – an experience that blended culinary skills with cultural and geographical exploration.
Exploring Africa’s Geography and Climate
To kick off the session, the children located Africa on the world map and identified all the continents. The focus then shifted to Africa’s climate regions, exploring how the weather impacts what can be grown. The children discovered the types of crops cultivated and foods commonly eaten in Western and Eastern Africa, linking this to the ingredients used in the day’s recipes. They learned about the abundance of farmland in Eastern Africa, where the warm and wet climate supports the growth of tea, coffee, corn, vegetables, and tropical fruits.
Hands-On Cooking: Making Somali Flatbread and Jollof Rice
Baking Traditional Somali Flatbread
One of the highlights of the day was the flatbread recipe, based on Sabaayad, a traditional Somali flatbread sweetened with a touch of honey. After the learning, the cooking began with making flatbread, where the children learned a variety of baking skills. They weighed ingredients using scales, kneaded the dough, and shaped it with a rolling pin.
Cooking Jollof Rice and Learning Culinary Skills
Next, the class prepared the ingredients for Jollof Rice. Using bridge and claw cutting techniques, they carefully chopped fruits and vegetables. Mrs. Taylor demonstrated how to combine the ingredients on the hob, explaining the role of each ingredient and linking them to crops grown in Africa.
Enjoying the Fruits of Their Labor
To wrap up, the children enjoyed tasting their delicious dishes. The bread and Jollof Rice were met with enthusiasm and praise from the young chefs! The children thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on activities, especially weighing ingredients, kneading the dough, and using the rolling pin. Of course, eating the delicious bread and rice was the highlight for many!
Memorable Moments and Real-World Learning Experiences
A Moment to Remember
Mrs. Taylor’s favourite moment was when a child who regularly eats Jollof Rice at home declared that the dish they had made was just as good as – and tasted just like – the one they enjoy at home. What a compliment!
I
Connecting Learning with Real-World Experiences
Our themed topic days are a wonderful way to enrich classroom learning. They help children connect theoretical knowledge with practical, real-world experiences, making the learning process both exciting and memorable. We can’t wait for our next adventure in learning – where will we go next?
If you are interested in booking a topic experience day at your school, please email [email protected] or complete our enquiry form.
