We’re crazy about carrots at Project CHEF and we celebrate them weekly in our program. In this post you will find many activities to get you learning more about this tasty BC vegetable.

Carrot-er Building Activities

(Get it? Character building)

#1 Digging Around Questions

Choose the questions that interest you to explore. Record in your Food Journal.

• • • There are so many vegetables that we classify them according to the part of the plant we eat. How would we classify carrots?
    • Why is it that you often see straight-shaped, orange carrots at the grocery stores instead of gnarly-shaped, colourful carrots you often find at farmers’ markets?
    • Why are some carrots twisted and crooked?
    • Keep track of your sources of information. For example: Book – Growing Organic, by A. Farmer or Website – westcoastseeds.com

#2 More Digging Around Questions

Choose the questions that interest you to explore. Record in your Food Journal.

• • Can you discover the names of some types of carrots that are not orange?
  • Some say carrots are good for your eyesight. Is this true? What nutrients can we find in carrots?
  • Keep track of your sources of information. For example: Book – Growing Organic, by A. Farmer or Website – westcoastseeds.com

 

 

 

#3 Sharpening Your Knife Skills

• Practice your knife skills by cutting up some carrots for a snack. If you find that a large carrot is hard to hold, cut it into smaller chunks first. You can also have an adult cut it in half lengthwise so there is a flat surface to place on the cutting board. Remember to hold the carrot with one hand in a claw, fingertips holding on to the carrot so it doesn’t move.  With the knife in the hand you write with, saw through the carrot, moving the knife forward and then back. Saw through close to your claw hand. If hanging on with a claw, your fingers are protected. If you get stuck, see-saw through the carrot to cut it safely.

#4 Find a Recipe to Cook

• Several of our recipes list carrots as an ingredient. Find a recipe that looks tasty. See if you and your family can make it together. You can also read through recipe books, check other websites or talk to family members to see how they like to eat carrots. Perhaps they can teach you a recipe.

 

 

 

 

#5 Regrow a Carrot

• • Did you know that you can grow carrot plants from carrot tops? You won’t get a new carrot but the carrots tops can be used in pesto or a salad. When the plant goes to seed, you can collect the seeds for next year. Give it a go! Here’s how

 

 

#6 Get Growing

• Discover more on growing carrots. Seeds can be found at many grocery stores.  Plant some of these tiny seeds in a pot and place in a sunny spot or plant some seeds in your garden.

 

 

 

 

#7 Carrot Contours

• Create a blind contour drawing of this versatile veggie.  Try placing one or some carrots on a table or counter. Take a close look at it. With a pencil, draw with long, continuous lines of the outside shape of the carrot. Look at the carrot and try not to look at your paper. Take your time. Try to connect what you see with what the pencil draws. The results will be surprising. Talk about crazy carrots! You can learn more about contour drawings here.

 

 

 

 

#8 Create a Carrot Masterpiece

• You can try painting or colouring carrots. Perhaps some of the artwork that our students have created will inspire you.