In this activity, children will make letters and/or numbers out of pretzel dough. Children will identify the letters and/or numbers. Children will put the letters and/or numbers in sequential order. This is a fun activity for all...and a delicious snack!
Ask the children to raise their hands if they like pretzels. Ask the children if they know where pretzels came from. Tell the children that a pretzel is a type of German biscuit. Show them where Germany is on the world map. Tell the children that pretzels were made in Europe and given to small children who learned their prayers. A pretzel was shaped to look like the crossed arms of children praying. Tell them that the first pretzel bakery in the United States opened in Pennsylvania in 1861 and is still in operation today.
Ask the children if they know what a recipe is. Tell them that they will follow a recipe for making pretzels. Read the recipe out loud:
Pretzel Recipe:
Directions:
Measure water in a mixing bowl. Sprinkle yeast in water. Add salt, sugar, and flour. Mix and knead dough approximately 3 minutes. Give each child a small ball of dough to form a letter of the alphabet or a number. Grease cookie sheets. Lay pretzels on the cookie sheets and brush with beaten egg. Sprinkle with salt. Bake at 425 degrees for 12 - 15 minutes. With your help, have the children put the letters of the alphabet in alphabetical order on the cooled cookie sheets (or the numbers in numerical order). Ask "Who has the letter A?" or "Who has the number 1?" and then "What letter (or number) comes next?" After you are done with the activity, eat the pretzels!