Age
⚙ 4 years and up
Time and Place
⚙ Any time of day
⚙ Any time of year
⚙ Indoors or outdoors (if you have the ability to heat the liquid)
Materials
⚙ Hot chocolate powder of your choice
⚙ Water or milk
⚙ Measuring tools (e.g., teaspoons, tablespoons, and measuring cups)
⚙ Appliances that can heat up water or milk
⚙ Cookware that can be heated (e.g., a kettle or pot)
Optional Materials
⚙ Marshmallows
Safety
⚙ Supervise children at all times
⚙ Exercise caution with high temperatures (adults must heat and pour the warm liquid, and ensure the hot chocolate is an appropriate temperature for drinking)
⚙ Be mindful of dietary restrictions or allergies
Instructions
On a cold day make hot chocolate. Encourage children to measure the ingredients. Challenge children to problem solve how to heat the water or milk-adults must do the heating and pouring! Have children observe (at an appropriate distance) how the hot chocolate powder dissolves. Adults stir the mixture and serve the hot chocolate when it is an appropriate drinking temperature.
Questions You May Ask
⚙ Which measuring tool can you use to measure [milk, water, powder]?
⚙ What can we use to heat up the [water, milk]? •What do you think will happen to the hot chocolate powder when I pour the hot [water, milk]?
⚙ What is happening to the hot chocolate powder as the hot [water, milk] is poured?
Related Children's Books
⚙ The Sweet Story of Hot Chocolate by Stephen Krensky
⚙ Hot Chocolate Weather by Elizabeth Castro
⚙ Cold Day, Hot Chocolate by Andrea Alamada
Play-based Context
Educators made hot chocolate after hearing how the children enjoyed eating chocolate over the winter break. While making the hot chocolate, educators ensured that every child had an opportunity to measure an ingredient. Children talked about what they saw as the hot chocolate was being made.