It has been said that a kitchen is the ideal learning environment. Cooking provides real-life hands-on experiences for children and teaches them important skills such as following instructions, managing their time, measuring, and collaborating with others. An act as simple and fun as making chocolate-chip cookies also brings math and science concepts to life.
Since 2017, students at Dwight School Seoul have had the chance to explore and develop skills in our Bakerspace. Donning colorful aprons and hats, our students have worked their culinary magic in a setting called the Bakerspace under the guidance and expertise of Mr. Paulo Cohen-Myers.
A typical Bakerspace class starts with a demonstration, where students learn about cooking techniques and the origins of ingredients. Our students then go off in teams to apply what they have learned by carrying out the recipe.
“I make sure that responsibilities are assigned to everyone equally and fairly, so that everyone is engaged during the cooking lesson,” says Mr. Paulo. “I want all my chefs to be happy.”
Mr. Paulo previously had developed a “Laboratory for Young Chefs” at an international school in Suzhou, China. Chef Paulo found cooking to be an interactive way to engage English as a Second Language students.
At Dwight School Seoul, Mr. Paulo held cooking classes in his ESL classroom the first year, then moved to a small room adjoining the cafeteria. As interest in cooking continued to grow, the Bakerspace resettled into its current, larger home on the second floor located next to the staff lounge.
Science teachers at Dwight have used the Bakerspace to explore chemistry, and classroom teachers have tried out holiday recipes with their students. In addition, the Kids4Kids Club, has used the kitchen to produce delicious fresh baked goods for bake sales that help children in need.
“Cooking brings people together,” says Mr. Paulo. “Besides, for myself as a teacher, there is nothing better than teaching a class that kids love.”
Ethan in Grade 2A during a recent class in the Bakerspace commented by saying, “I love to cook and it’s really fun.”
His classmate, Samuel, agreed adding “it has most of the ingredients you need for what you’re going to make.”
Dwight School Seoul is committed to igniting the spark of genius in every child, and the Bakerspace is just one of many avenues students can experience the best possible learning opportunities in an environment of creativity, exploration, teamwork, and encouragement.
