Grating Cheese

Grating develops hand strength and coordination while teaching children to prepare common recipe ingredients.

• Framework: Montessori
• Unit: Practical Life
• Learning area: Food Preparation
• Level: Ages 4-6

Objectives

• Learn grater use
• Develop hand safety
• Build recipe preparation skills

Materials

• Box grater or hand grater
• Block of cheese
• Cutting board
• Bowl for grated cheese

Instructions

1. Place grater on board over bowl. 2. Hold grater firmly with non-dominant hand. 3. Hold cheese in dominant hand. 4. Press cheese against grater. 5. Push down with pressure. 6. Stop before fingers reach grater. 7. Collect grated cheese.

Educator tip

Use larger pieces of cheese that keep fingers away from grater. Practice pressure and stopping point.

Assessment

Child grates cheese safely without injury.

More from Practical Life

• Squeezing Citrus
• Making a Simple Salad
• Making a Sandwich
• Mixing Batter
• Kneading Dough
• Rolling Dough
• Cracking Nuts
• Using a Mortar and Pestle