IAVA’s Culinary Club: Cooking Up Real-World Skills in a Virtual Club

Even though Iowa Virtual Academy (IAVA) students learn from home, we’re always looking for ways to incorporate hands-on learning into our after-school programs! One of our favorites is our culinary club, which gives students the chance to try their hand at cooking as a weekly activity. Now in its second year, the club has more than 30 participants who are digging deeper into the culinary world.

Introducing Students to the World of Cooking

The culinary club invites all interested students in grades 7-12 to participate, regardless of their cooking experience. For those not quite ready to dive into hands-on cooking, we encourage them to join the virtual meetings and learn more about the club and its activities.

The success of IAVA’s Culinary Club would not be possible if it weren’t for Brandi Baker, the science teacher who has volunteered to lead the club. In her first year as moderator, she transformed the culinary club into a weekly celebration of cooking, culture and creativity.

How does it work? Students connect online each week to brainstorm and choose what type of cuisine or dish they want to explore. Once the group reaches a decision, Brandi sends students recipe cards and ingredient lists ahead of time and when the time comes to cook their dish, students rotate through roles that include demonstrating the cultural background of their dish and how to cook it.

During class, two or three students typically present recipes around a shared theme. One student might demonstrate how to cook traditional Mexican carne asada while explaining the significance of the dish to their family and culture, followed by another student showing the class how to make walking tacos and discussing the modern fusion of different cuisines. These weekly presentations give students practice speaking in front of groups, working together as a team and learning their way around a kitchen. Students take pride in their presentations and their recipes and take turns helping prepare for class by managing collaborative reports and creating presentations.

“They each take their own role, and they each have their own responsibilities,” said Baker. “It’s really impressive to see them grow in this.”

A Recipe for Student Success

IAVA’s Culinary Club helps students gain confidence in ways that might not initially come to mind when thinking about a cooking class. Some students who feel hesitant about speaking up in regular online classes find it easier to share more personal matters like family recipes or explaining cooking steps to their classmates.

The club also helps kids work on critical thinking skills in practical ways. Students tackle real-world challenges like coordinating dishes to finish at the same time or adjusting recipes when certain ingredients aren’t available. With some guidance from Baker, kids learn to think on their feet when a recipe substitution is needed or if a guest has a dietary restriction.

Cooking Up Skills Beyond the Kitchen

Students in IAVA’s Culinary Club learn so much more than just new recipes each week. By connecting with classmates and tackling unexpected challenges in the kitchen, they’re building skills that will serve them long after graduation. For families looking to combine quality education with interactive opportunities like our academy’s culinary club, IAVA offers a place where students can thrive.

Want your student to experience interactive learning beyond the screen? Learn more about enrollment at IAVA and how our online learning model works today!

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