Mr. Wilson, 3rd-grade teacher at St. Mary’s Elementary School, wanted to set elementary school students up for their future. He wanted them to learn the importance of responsibility, following manual instructions, and being successful—so he did decided to start a bread-making activity with his 3rd grade class. This activity has now expanded to the whole 3rd grade. Students bake every week, filling the 1st floor with the smell of fresh bread, and selling it to the St. Mary’s community for a suggested ¥300.
The bread making now takes place in each of the 3rd grade rooms—transforming the classrooms from a learning space into a mini bakery. Students participate in making the bread from scratch, which takes lots of time and effort. The elementary students soon demonstrated that they are efficient and can manage their time effectively. As for the ingredients and materials, the teachers, as well as the parents of the students, are very supportive–donating ingredients to use. Each classroom has its own “bread manager,” a role that rotates every quarter, giving every student a chance to take charge.
Now in its third year, the project has evolved significantly. In the first year, it was just Mr. Wilson and his class . That experience was so successful that it soon spread to the other 3rd grade classes. In the second year, with all three classrooms participating, it has become a tradition. Mr. Mikawa’s, and Mr. Bernard’s classes, along with Mr. Wilson’s form a baking powerhouse! The bread making has become a real success and is teaching the students of St. Mary important skills and values that affect their education and their personal life.
There are two main reasons Mr. Wilson insists on continuing this project. First, the students love the hands-on experience of creating edible food from scratch, second, it teaches them the importance of accuracy and precision. A few humorous mistakes have been made along the way, but these mishaps only emphasize the lesson more effectively. Mr. Wilson explained “Remember, everybody makes mistakes!”
