Make pancakes for students to sample in the classroom. Use a mix or bring flour, milk, an egg, baking powder, oil and sugar and make homemade pancakes. Bring in several measuring cups and spoons so that students can help with measurement. Let students stir the batter and help crack the egg. Cook the pancakes yourself, but let students watch the process, and help you count the pancakes as you cook them.
Let students get creative in the kitchen with pancake toppings, recommends the website Universal Preschool. Set out bowls of different toppings for students to try, including whipped cream, different types of syrup, chocolate sauce, jams and jellies, peanut butter, bananas, strawberries and other berries. Give students one small pancake at a time and encourage them to taste test different toppings to find their favorite.
Get your students up and moving with pancake races, suggests the website Holiday Station. For these activities, make a pancake from play dough or cardboard. Place the pancake in a toy skillet, spatula or paper plate, and show students how to flip the pancake by tossing it into the air. See which student can toss her pancake the highest. Next, ask two students to balance a stack of pancakes on a plate or spatula. and race across the room without dropping any pancakes. Make the challenge harder by asking students to complete the task with one hand behind their back, blindfolded, or with the plate balanced on their head.
Let students make pancakes in the dramatic play area. Set up a kitchen play area with toy skillets, griddles, aprons and spatulas. Add empty milk, syrup, flour and sugar containers, as well as mixing bowls and spoons. Give students playdough to create pancakes, and invite them to fry the pancakes in the skillet but make sure they know that they cannot eat the playdough pancakes.