If you’ve ever asked the question “when am I going to use this in real life?” about math, you’re not alone. Thankfully there are several practical applications for the subject most of us spent at least 12 years studying. One of my favorites is in cooking, and with Thanksgiving coming up on Thursday, we wanted to show a fun way kids can be involved in using their math skills to help prepare for dinner. Since I was 10, it’s been my Thanksgiving dinner responsibility to prepare the stuffing. It’s fun, easy, and doesn’t take very long, so it’s perfect for helping kids experience math in action.

Today, I picked up some stuffing and butter from the store…

IMG_1665

 

and carefully measured out the water and butter I needed. There’s the math.

IMG_1677

 

I put them in the pan and put it on the stove to bring it to a boil.

IMG_1679

 

Then I stirred the butter and water as it heated up, waiting for the butter to melt.

IMG_1683

 

After it melted, I stirred it more as I waited for the water to boil.

IMG_1687

 

When the water was boiling, I opened the stuffing packet…

IMG_1688

 

and then poured it into the boiling water and butter.

IMG_1692

 

I stirred it all together, making sure all of the stuffing mix got to absorb some liquid.

IMG_1695

 

Then I turned off the burner, moved the pan off the heat, and covered it for 5 minutes.

IMG_1697

 

After 5 minutes, I took the lid off, and fluffed it with a fork.

IMG_1700

 

 

Voila! Stuffing.

It’s a fun easy thing to cook, and it takes a little bit of math (and science!) and it tastes great, too!

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County!