What are cereals? (11-14 Years)

Objectives:

• Identify different types of grain, where they are grown and their main uses.
• Describe the steps used in processing wheat grain to flour, oats and barley into end products.
• Explain the steps used in the production of bread and cereal-based foods from farm to fork, including food assurance schemes.

 Resources

• The grain chain game presentation (types of grain, grown and uses)
• Samples: ear of wheat, grains, flour and bread.
• The grain chain presentation
• The grain chain worksheet
• The grain chain cards
• Oat farming and processing presentation
• Barley farming and processing presentation
• Wheat farming video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrGHYs3QP-w)
• Wheat into flour video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wyhzKX97Vk)
• Bread making process video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kphmtNykXAU)
• Bread making (at school) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ErmAS0oLY4)

Introduction

• How many different types of grain can the pupils name? Quiz pupils on the names and uses of different grains. Use the grain game presentation to support – ask pupils to vote on the grains and suggest foods that are made from different grains. You may wish to arrange a display of different grains to be set out.
• Cereals form part of a healthy, varied diet and are in the starchy food group in The Eatwell Guide. What nutrients do cereals provide? (carbohydrate, fibre, vitamins and minerals)

Activity ideas

• Explore the ‘grain chain’ with the pupils. What steps to they think are involved? If possible, use props to engage pupils – look at an ear of wheat, focus on the grains. Where is the flour? How can the flour be extracted from the grains? How is the flour made into bread?
• Use the grain chain presentation to examine all the steps involved. Pupils can use the the grain chain worksheet to answer questions as you go through the presentation.
• Bring the ‘chain’ to life – use the three videos (see above) to show the grain chain in action.
• Ask pupils to place the the grain chain cards into the correct order. Ask them to list different foods that could be made from the grain.
• Show the Bread making video (at school) so that pupils are reminded of the main stages involved.
• Make bread, scones or savoury muffins, demonstrating the versatility of flour. Check out recipes on Food - a fact of life.
• Find out more about the Red Tractor logo. Collect packaging that displays the logo for products made from cereal-based foods. 

Round up

Recap the learning by questioning the pupils:

• What are the main stages of the grain chain?
• Name three different cereals. Wheat, oats and barley.
• What foods can be made with each of these cereals?
• What is made from wheat?
• List the stages involved in making bread.

Extension ideas

• Cook a variety of dishes using different cereals.
• Create a display showing the grain chain. Allocate different steps in the chain to small groups of pupils.
• Focus on the contribution made by cereals to healthy eating.