Pizza allows unlimited learning opportunities!

• As you follow the dough recipe you are reinforcing reading skills and following directions. According to scientific studies the absolute best way to increase reading ability, believe it or not, is to read! Take turns reading and working with the dough. Following directions is another important skill to learn and reinforce. Some of us never get the skill of following directions. (I'm still working on this one).

• When you measure out ingredients you use math skills. Basic measuring skills can be taught just by using the dough recipe. You can ask such questions as: "how much  ingredients would you need if you double or triple the recipe?". Higher level math skills can be used when figuring out the cost of each pizza. You can then try to compute the cps (cost per slice)! Real life problems and incidental learning are a great way to acquire and reinforce various skills. Pizza can also be used to learn fractions! 
  
  Cynthia Lanius has developed a fun way to learn fractions with pizza. For an overview go to the Table of Contents.     
  Here is another math resource created by Helena Bonaparte, Teresa Tyler, and Tiffanni Hermon-Wardell: Click HERE.

• Observing how the yeast is activated with warm water and sugar, is a science experiment. Yeast is actually a living organism. You are "growing " the yeast when you activate it with warm water and sugar. Rising dough is not a chemical reaction, but actually a biological process. OK, I am sounding a little to scientific here, but you get the idea. 
  For more information on yeast, Stanford University has compiled a great resource: Click HERE. 

• Describing the taste and smells of the pizza can allow you to increase vocabulary and writing skills. Brain-storm and write down a list of descriptors. Then, use a dictionary or thesaurus to help you add words to the list. Descriptions are a fun way to practice new words. Writing down the experience of creating pizza is another way to increase writing skills. True, editing and rewriting should be included to increase writing skills. (You never improve if you keep making the same mistakes!)      

• If you are working with several children at once, you can teach the cooperative skill of getting along with others. This is one of the most important skills we can share with young people. If you can't get along with others you will have a difficult time in school and work. The experience of creating a pizza together fosters a very positive group dynamic

I really want to encourage you to try making home-made pizza. 
True, it does take a little effort to get started.

The fun of the experience will  be worth the effort!