Teach preschoolers how pizza came about by educating them on its history. According to an article from What's Cooking America, pizza dates back to sixth century B.C., when Darius the Great and his soldiers would bake a flat bread on their shields then use toppings such as dates and cheese for dinner. Have students draw a version of Darius' pizza baking on the protective shields and share it with the class.
Keeping small hands busy can be a fun and entertaining way of teaching about pizza. Consider baking a pizza in class one day if the school has an oven that can be used. Buy a pre-made pizza crust and spread with tomato sauce. Have children pick from a pre-selected variety of toppings such as pepperoni, onions, peppers, tomatoes and pineapple. Sprinkle cheese on top, allowing children the decision of when to stop, then add requested toppings, encouraging vegetables as a healthier alternative.
Have preschoolers draw a favorite pizza and share it with the class. Begin with plain construction paper for the pizza dough. Prepare cutout toppings such as cheese, an assortment of meats and a variety of vegetables. Using glue sticks, kids can build their own pizzas, making them as silly or lifelike as they want. Another idea is preparing a recipe card for homemade pizza. Teachers can write the recipe ahead of time and preschoolers can decorate the cards and take them home.
Prepare a skit for children that involves pizza, such as playing pizza delivery man. When the student comes to the door, have another child act as the person paying for the pizza. Play this game with fake money, teaching children how to make change and tip for a service. Pass out handouts that encourage learning for children to take home, such as "counting pizza," which has the number of pizzas next to their corresponding number. For instance, the number two has two slices next to it.