This week, we are studying Europe! There are so many countries to learn about in Europe, and the first country we are beginning with is Ireland. We explored the Irish flag, Irish step dancing, and traditional Irish music and symbols. We also listened to an Irish folktale by author Tomie DePaola. Today, we explored a traditional food from Ireland: Irish soda bread. Irish soda bread is a very simple recipe which needs just 4 ingredients – flour, salt, baking soda and buttermilk. Students worked together to read the directions and measure ingredients. We also explored adding fractions while we were measuring out the ingredients. Each student got a chance to help mix the ingredients together. Then, Ms. Ursino baked the bread in the oven. While the bread was baking, we explored one of the less familiar ingredients from the recipe – buttermilk! Students discovered that buttermilk got it’s name because it is the result of butter being made from cultured cream and separating into butterfat and buttermilk. Every student smelled the buttermilk and many did not enjoy the smell. Students who were interested in sampling the buttermilk got to try it – most were not a fan! After sampling the unique ingredient, we brainstormed a list of adjectives to describe the buttermilk. Their adjectives included:
creamy, sour, rotten, disgusting, cheesy, stinky, bitter, cruel, thick.
Can you tell from their list of adjectives how they felt about the buttermilk? 🙂
While our bread was in the over, the students used their new expertise on bread-making to practice “how-to” writing. They wrote detailed steps about the process, and made sure to use transition words like “first”, “next”, “then” and “finally”. We look forward to sharing our “How to Make Irish Soda Bread” writing with you on Grandfriends’ Day!
After writing, our bread was about ready to sample! Unlike the buttermilk, the bread was well-liked by all! It is amazing that such a simple recipe makes such a delicious treat! Interested in making the bread at home? You can find the recipe we used here!
