Kitchen Safety Schedules maths mission

Quick answer

By creating a kitchen safety schedule, you learn to sequence tasks in the right order so that cooking stays safe and fun.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to make a simple kitchen safety schedule that shows the right order for tasks like washing hands, prepping ingredients, and turning on the oven.

• You can name at least 3 steps in a safe cooking sequence
• You can explain why one step comes before another
• You can create your own safe cooking schedule
• You can check if a schedule makes sense for safety

Why this matters

When you cook, you need to follow the right steps to stay safe. A kitchen safety schedule helps you remember the order of tasks so you don’t get hurt or make a mess. This is like a plan that makes your cooking adventures go smoothly. You already use this kind of thinking when you know to put your shoes on before going outside or to brush your teeth before bed. In the kitchen, you need to do things in the right order too!

How it works

Creating a kitchen safety schedule is like making a recipe for safety:

1. First, think about what you need to do before cooking
2. Then, list the steps in the right order
3. Next, check if your schedule makes sense
4. Finally, practice following your schedule

Each step in your schedule should help keep you safe and make your cooking easier. For example, you should wash your hands before touching food, and you should always check the oven is off before turning it on.

Examples you can see

Imagine you are making a simple sandwich. Here is how a safe schedule might look:

Now let’s look at a more complex example for a cake:

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Great Kitchen Rescue

You are a kitchen safety detective, and someone has mixed up the order of cooking steps! You need to fix the schedule so that everything works safely.

Your mission: Fix the schedule below by putting the steps in the right order.

Wrong Schedule:

1. Put ingredients in oven
2. Wash hands
3. Turn on oven
4. Preheat oven
5. Check oven is off

Correct Order:

1. Wash hands
2. Check oven is off
3. Preheat oven
4. Turn on oven
5. Put ingredients in oven

Why?

• You must wash hands first to stay clean
• You must check the oven is off before you turn it on
• Preheating means warming up the oven before putting food in
• Turning it on and then putting food in is the right way

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Starting to cook before washing hands
  Why: Children might think they can start cooking right away
  Fix: Always wash hands first to keep food clean
• Mistake: Turning on the oven before checking if it’s off
  Why: Kids might rush or forget to check
  Fix: Always check if it’s off before turning it on
• Mistake: Skipping steps or doing them out of order
  Why: Kids might think they can do anything in any order
  Fix: Think about why each step is important
• Mistake: Not thinking about safety when making a schedule
  Why: Kids might focus only on what they want to do
  Fix: Ask yourself “What could go wrong if I do this step first?”

Parent and carer guide

Helping your child make a kitchen safety schedule is a great way to build their problem-solving skills and real-life maths thinking. Here are 5 tips to get started:

1. Start simple: Begin with a 3-step schedule like washing hands, getting ingredients, and cooking.
2. Use real examples: Talk about what you do in the kitchen every day and make a schedule together.
3. Ask questions: “Why do we do this step before that one?” or “What happens if we skip this?”
4. Encourage drawing: Let your child draw their schedule or use stickers to show the steps.
5. Practice together: Follow the schedule you made and talk about what went well or what could be better.

Remember: It’s okay if the schedule isn’t perfect at first. The most important thing is that your child understands the importance of safety and order.

Practice questions

1. What should you do first before cooking?
2. Why is it important to check the oven is off before turning it on?
3. Which step comes before putting food in the oven?
4. What should you do if you want to bake a cake?
5. Can you list 4 safe steps for making a sandwich?

Answers:

1. Wash hands
2. To avoid burning yourself or starting a fire
3. Preheat oven
4. Wash hands, check oven, preheat oven, put food in oven, bake
5. Wash hands, get ingredients, make sandwich, eat sandwich

FAQ

What is a kitchen safety schedule?

A kitchen safety schedule is a list of steps to follow when cooking, so that everything is done safely and in the right order.

Why do we need to follow a schedule in the kitchen?

Following a schedule keeps you safe from burns, cuts, and messes. It also makes cooking easier and more fun.

Can I make my own kitchen safety schedule?

Yes! You can make a schedule for any cooking task, like making toast, baking a cake, or making a salad.

What if I forget the steps?

You can draw a picture of your schedule, make a chart, or ask a grown-up to help you remember.

Is it okay to change the order of steps?

Sometimes it’s okay to change the order, but only if it still keeps you safe. For example, you can get ingredients ready before washing hands, but it’s better to wash hands first.