Blog: The Light of Aurora

Why Bake Bread with Young Children

14:25 PM - January 11, 2023

In this age of instant gratification, it is a gift to slow down and experience a process from beginning to end. So it is with weekly bread baking in the pre-K and kindergarten classes at Aurora Waldorf School.

While our early childhood classes have yet to grow the grain in the school garden, the children learn through songs about planting, growing, and harvesting crops used in making bread.

The students begin each week grinding whole grains into flour. Then they help their teachers measure and mix warm water, yeast, salt, oil, honey and molasses, adding in the freshly ground flour to make a soft dough. The dough is then divided up into portions just right for small hands. The class dons baking aprons and gathers around the table to work the dough while they sing together. Each child’s creativity is expressed as they shape their own bread roll into a unique design. This fun play with dough serves a greater purpose than playing with Play-Doh, though the children gain the same fine motor strengthening benefits. Each student proudly takes home their little loaf to contribute to the family meal.

Beyond the baking process, the children learn they are capable of cleaning up after themselves, sweeping any spilled flour, washing the dishes, drying them, and putting them away in the cupboard.

The following day, the class gathers family-style around the snack table or around a picnic blanket to enjoy the loaf shaped by their teacher. Making and sharing bread together fosters a true sense of community is fostered!

Sing, sing for the bread we are baking,

Sing, sing for the baking of bread,

Sing for the oats and sing for the rye,

Sing for the wheat and the yeast rising high.

*composer unknown

And back of the flour is the grain,

And back of the grain is the sun and the rain and the farmer’s will.

*unknown composer

On a Monday morning, sunny Monday morning,

Sowed the seeds, Tatoosh and I,

Sowed them when the sun was high.

On a Tuesday morning, sunny Tuesday morning,

Mowed the grains, Tatoosh and I,

Mowed them when the sun was high.

On a Wednesday morning, sunny Wednesday morning,

Dried the grains, Tatoosh and I,

Dried them when the sun was high.

On a Thursday morning, sunny Thursday morning,

Threshed the grains, Tatoosh and I,

Threshed them when the sun was high.

On a Friday morning, sunny Friday morning,

Ground the grains, Tatoosh and I,

Ground them when the sun was high.

On a Saturday morning, sunny Saturday morning,

Baked the bread, Tatoosh and I,

Baked it when the sun was high.

On a Sunday morning, sunny Sunday morning,

Bowed our heads, Tatoosh and I,

Thanked the earth and sun and sky.

*adapted Polish folk song