Every year, I have my class make banana pudding. This is a “cooking” activity, as well as a fine motor activity because the children practice slicing the bananas with a knife. This is one of their favorite activities because they love to slice the bananas!
We use dull edge knives, such as butter knives. Plastic knives might work , but I like to use the sturdier, metal ones. They can be purchased in many discount stores at 4 for $1.00.
Ingredients:
Bananas (one half per child)
Vanilla Pudding (one cup per child)
Vanilla Wafers (about 4-5 mini vanilla wafers per child)
Whipped Topping (optional)
Other Materials:
Dull Knives
Plastic Spoons
Paper Plates
Wet Wipes and/or Napkins
Cups or Bowls
Directions:
- First, have the kids put vanilla wafers in a clear punch cup (the mini vanilla wafers are great for this).
- Second, spoon the vanilla pudding from a pudding cup to their punch cup, on top of the vanilla wafers.
- Third, slice half a banana and put the slices in the cup.
- Optional: Add some whipped topping.
- Enjoy!
The photos below show our process of making banana pudding:
The children sliced bananas with these dull knives.
Then we made instant vanilla pudding. Children took turns adding ingredients, such as a cup of milk.
Children took turns stirring the pudding.
Then we used a ladle to scoop up some pudding and put it into their cup. They had already put their mini vanilla wafers in the bottom of the cup.
They added their sliced bananas to the top and it was ready to eat!
More Slicing:
To extend slicing practice, add some slicing activities to your centers. You can find educational toys made especially for this where children can cut fruit or cut a sandwich. The toys are made with Velcro to attach the play food together and then children use a dull knife to slice the food apart. These make a great fine motor addition to the House Center.