Potatoes

Most children know about potatoes, so why not help them explore them more. In Idaho, potatoes are especially relevant to the children because some live on potato farms, or their dads work on the farms. All of them have at least eaten them and know what they look like. Let children have as many first hand, hands on experiences. This is were they learn and can explore.

What we taught about potatoes:

1. Potatoes grow under ground
2. There are lots of different kinds of potatoes and they come in different colors and sizes
1. Russet
2. Yukon gold
3. Red
4. Sweet
5. Fingerling
3. You can cook potatoes in different ways
1. Boil
2. Fry
3. Bake
4. There are lots of foods made with potatoes
1. French fries
2. Potato chips
3. Hash browns
4. Mashed 
5. Gnocchi
6. Pirogi
7. Latkes
8. Croquette
5. How to make mashed potatoes
1. Wash the potatoes
2. Peel the potatoes
3. Cut the potatoes
4. Boil the potatoes
5. Mash the potatoes
6. Season the potatoes

Activities that have to do with potatoes:

Art
Mr. Potato Head
Materials
     Potato shaped brown paper
     Crayons
     Markers
     Colored pencils
     Pom poms
     Buttons
     Feathers
     Pipe Cleaners
     Glue
Description
     Children will decorate the paper. They can add a face with all of the materials or what ever they wish. Let them be creative and make it theirs.

Math
Potato Sorting
Materials
     Different kind of potatoes
     Pictures of the different potatoes
Description
     Children will sort the potatoes according to size, kind or color.

Weighing Potatoes
Materials
     Potatoes
     Scale
Description
     Children will weigh the potatoes. They can also try to balance the scale.
Language
Letter Making
Materials
     Gallon sized Ziploc Bags
     Mashed Potatoes
     Letters
Description
     Fill the Ziploc bags with mashed potatoes. Children will look at the letters and copy them with their finger into the mashed potatoes.

Sensory
Washing Potatoes
Materials
     Buckets
     Potatoes
     Scrubbers
     Towels
Description
     Place towels on the table to soak up the spilled water. Fill buckets with water. Children will wash the dirt off of the potatoes.

Mashing Potatoes
Materials
     Potatoes
     Potato Mashers
     Bowls
Descriptions
     Children will mash the potatoes in the bowls.

Manipulatives
Mr. Potato Head
Materials
     Mr. Potato Head pieces
     Potatoes
Description
     Children will put the Mr. Potato Head pieces into the real potatoes.

photo from http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110913201304/pixar/images/a/a8/Mr._potato_head_toy.jpg

Peeling Potatoes
Materials
     Potatoes
     Potato Peeler
     2 Buckets
Description
     Children will peel the potatoes into a bucket and then place the peeled potatoes in the other bucket. MAKE SURE THERE IS ADULT SUPERVISION TO AVOID INJURY! Remind children to peel away from themselves.

Science
Potato Food Testing
Materials
     Different foods that are made with potatoes
     Chart/graph
     Markers
Description
     Children will use their senses (smell, taste, touch and sight) to say if they like they different foods. Have them then put a happy face or check mark if they like it and a sad face or X if they don't.

Dramatic Play
Gardening
Materials
     Vegetables
     Potatoes
     Seeds
     Shovels
     Gardening gloves
     Rakes
     Hoes
Description
     Children will pretend to garden inside and they can really garden outside.

Gross Motor
Digging for Potatoes
Materials
     Child Sized Shovels
     Potatoes
     Dirt or Garden
Description

     Children will dig for potatoes in the garden.