On the last day of the winter trimester, a dozen student chefs relished remembering some of the favorite foods they had learned to prepare. The list included chicken, pasta, vegetables, and all types of potatoes, ranging from mashed to french fries. But one dish was held up as the apex of their cuisine.
“Our chocolate chip cookies,” said an eighth grader. “I ate a dozen!”
The Dorset School (TDS) offers elective blocks on the school calendar for 7th and 8th grade students to pursue topics of personal interest, such as art, music, Spanish, and the Yearbook. When the number of electives each trimester was expanded from two to three for the 2023-24 academic year, one new offering took the cake: Cooking.
“It’s no secret that food is popular with middle schoolers,” says TDS Principal Rosanna Moran. “ Now there’s a waiting list to get in.”
Each trimester at TDS, a dozen students fill up the cooking class. With preference given to older students, the class is mostly eighth graders. One classroom that serves as a workshop space was outfitted with a half-dozen air fryers and a portable cooktop for the twice weekly, 40 minute sessions. Staff members signed-up to help oversee instruction.
“We emphasize the importance of health and safety in the kitchen,” says TDS health education teacher Kali Harris. “The kids walk in and immediately disinfect and wipe down the counters. When our work is done, we all clean-up before leaving.”
One important skill taught in class is the proper handling of knives — how to both sharpen correctly and use safely. “This is especially helpful in working with vegetables,” adds TDS librarian Lisa Gaiotti with a smile. “Hopefully, this can open up their world to more healthy eating.”
The course exposed the young cooks to the basic fundamentals of baking, boiling, frying and steaming. As a result of the class, many students find themselves helping out more at home. “I now really like preparing the meals from Hello Fresh,” said one student.
On their final day, the special dish on the menu was english muffin pizza. The recipe included cheese, pizza sauce, pepperoni (and/or bacon bits) and the aforementioned sliced english muffins. The chefs moved confidently through their classroom kitchen. After a brief introduction from the instructor, they prepared their own customized pizzas and popped them into the air-fryers.
While the food may be the main dish, there’s another favorite ingredient to the cooking class that serves as dessert: conversation, an organic opportunity for connection. During the session kids gather and move between groups freely. Sometimes they discuss what they are doing with the food, but often the focus is on other topics at school.
“Time in the cooking class gives me an opportunity to really get to know my fellow students,” said one young chef. “While cooking and eating we have time to be more of ourselves. I’ve made some new friends.”
Decidedly, food for thought.
(Photo above: Two students celebrate the end of their cooking class with an English muffin pizza “toast.”)
The Dorset School cooking glass creates opportunities for students to enjoy food and converse with friends.