Help children with a science lesson about how foods are affected by temperature.

Materials:

• 1 banana for each child, cut into thirds
• Toothpicks
• Honey
• Granola
• Butter
• Orange Juice
• Graham cracker crumbs
• Yogurt (vanilla or apricot) or whipped cream

Directions:

Talk about how the same food (such as potatoes) can be prepared several ways so that each way tastes different. Name several foods, and ask children to tell different ways to prepare them, such as scrambled eggs, hard-boiled eggs, or deviled eggs. Then invite the children to prepare bananas in three different ways.

For freezer bananas: Have the children use a plastic knife to cut a banana in thick slices. Then the children can stick a toothpick in the end of a chunk and spread honey on the banana. Put wheat germ or granola in a bowl and have the children roll the banana in it. Place the banana pieces in the freezer for 30 minutes.

For baked bananas: Line a baking dish with foil. You or the children can use a plastic knife to cut the banana lengthwise. Have the children dot the bananas with butter or margarine, drizzle them with orange juice and honey, then sprinkle them with graham cracker crumbs. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes; then broil for 2 minutes until the bananas are browned. Top the bananas with yogurt (vanilla or apricot) or whipped cream.

On a plate, place plain banana pieces, frozen banana chunks, and the baked slices. You'll be giving the children practice with finger coordination and a science lesson about how things are affected by temperature.

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