Science of Cooking Project – Cooking and science for everyone!
Two pilot workshops, one step forward in the education of people with intellectual disabilities
The pilot workshops, which were intended to test and evaluate the activities developed within the framework of the project, were successfully completed. Combining creative cooking recipes with exciting physics experiments, the workshops offered adults with intellectual disabilities and their instructors a unique experience, combining entertainment, learning and creativity in a way that was unforgettable for everyone
Discover below the details of the two actions that took place:
1st Pilot Workshop – Monday, February 10, 2025
Recipe: Rice pudding
Experiment: Liquid or solid?
The first workshop was hosted at the Center for Creative Employment of People with Disabilities “Ta Filarakia” and was a unique opportunity for 5 beneficiaries and 2 trainers to combine cooking with science. The team chose to prepare rice pudding, and the whole process of making it was a creative and enjoyable experience. The participants had the opportunity to observe the phenomenon of boiling and get to know the properties of corn flour, as an ingredient that helps to coagulate the mixture. The real surprise came with the execution of the “liquid or solid?” experiment, when the participants discovered the whimsical substance created by mixing water and cornflake. The behavior of the substance, sometimes as a liquid that flows when they let it flow gently through their fingers, and sometimes as a solid that resists the sudden blow with their hand, was a good opportunity for discussion about the properties of materials and the role of science in interpreting them.
2nd Pilot Workshop – Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Recipe: Vegan Yogurt Cake
Experiment: Imprison the gas!
The second action was carried out in collaboration with the “EN DYNEI” team, which is a partner of NOESIS, in the project and the Center for Creative Employment of People with Disabilities “SOTIR”. At the premises of the “SOTIR” center, 10 beneficiaries from the two centers, 4 trainers and 2 volunteers joined forces to prepare vegan yogurt cakes. The participants under the guidance of the chef and instructors worked as a team and efficiently to prepare the dessert. The discussion centered around the states of matter, their recognition and their special characteristics. On the occasion of the properties of baking powder that makes the cake rise, we performed an experiment with soda and vinegar, we observed a chemical reaction taking place in front of our eyes and we saw the gas produced inflating balloons.
The trainers from both workshops expressed their satisfaction with the originality and quality of the activities. Although cooking activities are integrated into the centers’ programs, the pilot workshops offered a unique and interesting experience for everyone. Participants and trainers gained not only new knowledge but also valuable memories from this educational adventure.