Skip to content
Anera
  • Who We Are
    • Column1
      • About Us
      • Our Staff
      • Anera FAQ
    • Column2
      • Resources
      • 2024 Annual Report
      • Contact Us
  • Where We Work
    • Column1
      • Palestine
        • Gaza
        • West Bank
      • Lebanon
      • Jordan
  • What We Do
    • Column1
      • Agriculture
      • Health
      • Community
      • Education
    • Column2
      • Water
      • Emergency
      • Stories
      • Videos
  • How to Help
    • Column1
      • Fundraise
      • Become a Social Media Ambassador
      • Attend an Event
      • Donor Portal
    • Column2
      • Give Monthly
      • More Ways to Give
      • Zakat Giving
      • Anera Leadership Circle
  • Blog
  • Donate
    • Monthly Giving
    • Zakat Giving
    • More Ways to Give
Anera
Donor Portal
  • Who We Are
    • Column1
      • About Us
      • Our Staff
      • Anera FAQ
    • Column2
      • Resources
      • 2024 Annual Report
      • Contact Us
  • Where We Work
    • Column1
      • Palestine
        • Gaza
        • West Bank
      • Lebanon
      • Jordan
  • What We Do
    • Column1
      • Agriculture
      • Health
      • Community
      • Education
    • Column2
      • Water
      • Emergency
      • Stories
      • Videos
  • How to Help
    • Column1
      • Fundraise
      • Become a Social Media Ambassador
      • Attend an Event
      • Donor Portal
    • Column2
      • Give Monthly
      • More Ways to Give
      • Zakat Giving
      • Anera Leadership Circle
  • Blog
  • Donate
    • Monthly Giving
    • Zakat Giving
    • More Ways to Give
  • Who We Are
  • What We Do
  • Where We Work
  • How to Help
  • Resources
  • Success Stories
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • 2024 Annual Report
Donate
EDUCATION

Children in Palestine Preschool Learn through Baking!

Nov, 2015

Through baking and other hands-on activities, children in Palestine are developing cognitive and motor skills.

A handwritten recipe hangs on a green tree outside Al Rahma preschool in Gaza. Children and teachers check the list as they gather around a small table to prepare a delicious treat.

It’s a lot of fun. But teacher Iman Ali explains that cooking at this preschool is about more than just preparing food – it’s a multifaceted educational activity. “This is a way to introduce new words to our children in a fun way,” she says with a smile. “Today we’re making cake and the kids will help make it happen and learn some new vocabulary, like vanilla, baking powder or cooking oil.”

Through cooking, children also improve their math skills by doing simple tasks like counting eggs or pouring water into a measuring cup. The child-friendly cake recipe lists quantities and measurements but also has pictures to make learning new skills easier. For instance, “one cup of milk” is written and then illustrated with a representative drawing.

Children in Palestine learn with the help of their creative teachers.
At Al Rahma preschool, children learn math, science and vocabulary through the real life process of baking a cake.

Activity Centers Critical for Children in Palestine

Baking in Gaza preschools.

Cooking for the children also opens up the world of science and nature as they do experiments by themselves, with help from the teacher. “They follow the steps of scientific research and they learn how to solve problems as well,” explains Suad Lubad, an Anera Early Childhood Development (ECD) trainer, who advises the teachers on active learning methods as the core of a successful educational program.

Anera recently renovated Al Rahma preschool inside and out, adding bright colors and activity centers to classrooms and play areas. The cooking class takes place in the schoolyard as part of the science and nature center activity that allows children to explore and experiment with handmade materials or recycled materials and other educational tools, from flour, salt and spices to magnets, tree leaves and flowers.

Anera offers training to teachers to incorporate creative learning into activity centers, such as reading, science, art and music. The activities are an essential part of active learning that Anera’s Right Start! ECD program has been promoting in preschools.

During an activity like cake baking, the teacher can observe the children’s interaction and how they handle different challenges. ‘The kids learn that if they want to have a good cake they must follow the recipe so if they face any problem as they prepare the cake, they have to figure out how to resolve it,” says teacher Iman Ali.

Trainer Suad Lubad

"They know that some materials are liquid, some are hard, some are powdered, and some have a smell and some don’t."

Teacher & Trainer Insights on Interactive Learning

Trainer Suad Lubad describes problem-solving as the essence of the math exercises, that include addition and subtraction.

“For instance, when children make dough from flour, water, oil and sugar, sometimes the mixture gets watery and this prompts them to look for a solution. They may think to add more or less flour and this is called comparison. They know that some materials are liquid, some are hard, some are powdered, and some have a smell and some don’t,” says Suad.

The fun class is also a valuable learning experience for the teacher who shares information with her trainer about the children’s physical and cognitive development. Iman reflects:

“The main thing is that in this science activity center and all other activity centers the children have a lot of fun, which makes the learning process a thrilling and memorable experience that stays with them for the rest of their lives.”

Preschooler Sarah presents the cake recipe.

"The children have a lot of fun, which makes the learning process a thrilling and memorable experience that stays with them for the rest of their lives.”

SHARE THIS STORY

Related Stories

A Safe Space to Grow

Read More →
Anera in Deir Al Balah, Gaza feature image

Anera in Deir Al Balah, Palestine

Read More →

$219 M

worth of aid to serve millions of Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians and Jordanians, in calendar year 2024

Contact Us

WHO WE ARE

Site Map

  • Who We Are
  • Where We Work
  • What We Do
  • How to Help
  • Donor Portal
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Stories
  • Join Our Team
  • Contact Us

More About Anera

Anera addresses the development and relief needs of refugees and vulnerable communities in Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan. 

Anera is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (tax-ID number 52-0882226). Your gift is secure and tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Follow Us on Social Media

© Anera, 2025 | Print This Page | Site Credit
  • FAQ
  • TRUSTED & RESPECTED
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SITE MAP
 Share This
 Facebook
 WhatsApp
 LinkedIn
 Email

Share on Mastodon