Worksheet for a Family Centre session

Welcome to the wonderful world of breadmaking

Morning everyone! With the help of your child, you are going to make a ‘sizzler’ (a bit like a wrap), and playdough – out of which we’ll make a house and other things.

Session aims: To show you just how easy and satisfying it is to make bread; how much fun you can have making bread with your child; how little home-made bread costs; and how healthy and full of flavour home-made bread is!

Please note:

• This is a fun session for you both, so you can relax and enjoy yourselves

• Let your child do as much as possible – only step in if your child is too young to do the task we’ve set for her. Or you could do the activity together, like mixing the dough hand over hand

• Give your child time to react to any request or instruction – it takes a little while for it to sink in

Labels: Everyone needs a large name label: if I’m busy with someone else, come and help yourself. Please write in large letters so I can read it from a distance!

One batch of dough:

300g strong white flour

1 rounded dessertspoon of fresh yeast

200ml lukewarm water

Method: Crumble the yeast into a jug and add water up to 200ml. Stir and add to the flour. Mix into a soft, squishy dough. Knead the dough (flatten and fold) just until it is smooth. Divide the dough into three pieces and put two to one side. Cut the other into 2 pieces.

Plus:

For the sizzlers : Sliced tomatoes or mushrooms and grated cheese

Demo from Paul

Shape and put to prove. (Put your child’s initials, made out of dough, on top of one of the sizzlers – then we can re-unite you with your own bread!)

Now the playdough (if you run out, just let me know):

• Here’s a few ideas for different shapes. Put them on a sheet of baking paper as they’re shaped:
• ‘House’ bread: roll out the dough, cut out a triangle and a square and form a house shape. Cut out holes for windows and put a boiled sweet in the hole. Make doors and a chimney from the trimmings..
• Teddy bears, made with different size balls of dough – one large for the tummy and five small ones – rolled out a bit for the arms and legs. Your child will decide where eyes, mouth, buttons, etc, will go.
• Little person – roll out a piece of dough like a sausage, slit one end for the legs, make two diagonal slits halfway up for the arms and two little cuts for the head. Tuck in the head to make it neater. Make little balls of dough for eyes, etc.
• Snake bread: Roll out a piece of dough to about 15cm long and coil it on the baking tray. Use little balls of dough for the eyes. Make a little tongue and slit the end.
• Hedgehog rolls. Make an oval roll and point one end for the nose. Use little balls of dough for the eyes. From behind, snip spikes with a pair of scissors held at about a 30-degree angle.
• Caterpillars – small balls of dough placed next to one another with a larger one for the head
• And of course you can invent your own shapes!