4-H Food & Fitness Curriculum Kit: Microwave Magic
Lesson 1: Tricks of the Trade
Activity &
Time
Get It
Together
5 minutes
Welcome to
4-H
Microwave
Magic
10 minutes
What to Say and Do
Find The Hazards (Basic Kitchen Safety )
Supplies Needed
Find The Hazards worksheet
As youth arrive, have them work alone or with a friend to find all of the kitchen
hazards on the picture of the messy kitchen.
Get to Know You Activity
Gather youth together for “4-H Time Opening”. Go around with selfintroductions. Suggestion: name and favorite food.
Opening of 4-H Time
Explain this is 4-H time. Introduce youth to the 4-H flag, 4-H Pledge, and 4-H
clover. Explain that every 4-H session will start with the 4-H Pledge.
4-H flag
4-H Pledge
4-H clover
Turn the 4-H Pledge into an activity to help children understand the meaning of
the H’s and relate the “H’s” to the day’s planned activities. Refer to: 4-H Pledge
and the 4-H Wheel of Life fact sheet for ideas. Examples for each “H” are:
Newsprint
Markers
4-H Pledge and the 4-H Wheel of Life
HEALTH – Belonging:
working together, sharing a snack
HANDS – Mastery:
making cocoa
HEART – Generosity:
helping each other, cleaning up our space
HEAD Independence: trying new things, making decisions
The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
UNH, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and New Hampshire counties cooperating.
4-H After-school Work Team, 2007
My 4-H Project Portfolio
Distribute one 4-H Project Portfolio to each youth. Have them write their name
on their copy. They will use this make a record of each session.
My 4-H Project Portfolio
Pocket folders
Recommendation: Provide a folder for each youth to keep their Portfolio and
recipes organized and clean. Remind them to write in them when they have
“waiting time” during each session. Encourage them to write a short summary
of their activity or draw a picture, add the recipes from each lesson, and other
recipes they might like to try at home.
Find the Hazards - Messy Kitchen
Talk about the worksheet – what did the youth identify as hazards?
Culinary
Concepts
Experiment
Safety Rules
Demonstration Review the safety rules that will be followed in every lesson. Post the rules and
refer to them as needed.
10 minutes
Fight BAC
If you have access to a computer and LCD projector, show “The Case of the
Filthy Fingers” on the CD, Fight BAC®.
Culinary
Skills
25 minutes
Poster of Safety Rules
Fight BAC® web site
When finished, or in place of this, review the importance of washing our hands
whenever handling food. Introduce the Hand Washing Songs.
Hand Washing Songs
Recommendation: Review food safety information prior to the lesson. See
Helpers Guide, pages 18-19.
Microwave Magic: Helpers Guide
Demonstration: Testing 1, 2, 3
While youth are still gathered, follow directions on page 8-9, Level A to
demonstrate the “testing” of cooking utensils and dinnerware. Ask the youth to
predict which dishes they think will be safe to use in the microwave, and which
will not be safe. Review the results. If time allows, have youth choose an
untested dish and follow the procedure to test dishes. Ask them to share what
they discover.
Microwave Magic: Level A Bag of
Tricks
- Glass dish
- Plastic dish
- 2-3 other dishes
- Glass measuring cup (1-2 cups)
- Water
The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
UNH, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and New Hampshire counties cooperating.
4-H After-school Work Team, 2007
Small Group Cooking
Divide into two groups. If you plan to assign food preparation roles, explain the
duties of each. If time allows, have each group prepare their recipe and then
swap stations to prepare the other recipe.
Group 1: Hot Cocoa
Provide instructions (page 9, Level A) and guide the youth in following the
directions to prepare hot cocoa mix. Prepare optional add-ins to make spiced hot
cocoa (add 1 tsp. cinnamon) or mocha cocoa (add 2 Tbsp instant coffee).
Group 2: Popcorn
Provide instructions and guide the youth in following the directions to prepare
popcorn in the microwave oven. Prepare optional add-ins to make cheesy
popcorn, seasoned popcorn, and sweet popcorn.
Microwave Magic: Level A, Bag of
Tricks
See recipe for ingredients
See recipe for equipment
Supplemental Popcorn recipe
See recipe for ingredients
See recipe for equipment
Sample the variations of cocoa and popcorn.
Nutrition
Nuggets &
Fast Facts
5 minutes
Reflection
Connection
5 minutes
Clean Up
Guide the process of cleaning up the cooking area, safely storing food, and
returning supplies and equipment to storage.
Keep it Clean
Follow instructions (page 12-13, Level A) to demonstrate why we cover foods.
Recommendation: Make a cup of cocoa in a glass measuring cup. Use the hot
cocoa instead of a hot dog to show spattering. Ask youth what other foods might
spatter when being micro-cooked. What could they use to cover these foods?
Cleaning supplies
Microwave Magic,
Level A, Bag of Tricks
- 1 cup glass measure
- Paper towels
Wrap Up Questions
- Why do you think we tested our dishes first?
- What might happen if we tried to cook in the microwave oven using a
dish that wasn’t micro-safe?
- What other add-ins would you like to try with cocoa and popcorn?
The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
UNH, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and New Hampshire counties cooperating.
4-H After-school Work Team, 2007