Incorporate a cooking activity into current lessons as children respond well to hands-on activities in conjunction with learning. After reading a book, find an element of the book that would make a fun, easy snack for the children to make. An excellent book containing reading suggestions with corresponding recipes is Janet Bruno's, "Book Cooks: Literature-based classroom cooking; 35 recipes for favorite books, grades K-3" published by Creative Teaching Press. An example from the book takes "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" by Judith Viorst Atheneum and follows it up with 'Sweeten Up Your Day Treats' and discussion suggestions.
Demonstrate scientific and mathematical principles through cooking. Cooking involves, weights, measurements and sometimes chemical reactions. Making muffins in class can show children how leavening agents react with other ingredients to make the muffins rise. Have the children hypothesize what the outcome of the experiment will be. If you make any mistakes, and the recipe doesn't turn out right, use this as an opportunity to talk about what went wrong and what could have made it turn out better.
Create or find recipes that are seasonal. Just as classrooms change with the seasons, so can the opportunity for cooking with children in the classroom. When the holidays roll around, why not make treats that kids can take home to their parents? Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas and Easter all are excellent times to work in a cooking activity. Use the seasons' changes as a way to introduce children to new foods as well as the customs that surround foods.
Grow herbs and vegetables in container or raised bed gardens. Children learning about health and nutrition, as well as those learning about plants and photosynthesis, will appreciate creating delicious snacks with the things they've grown.