Tapestry of Faith: Moral Tales: A Program on Making Choices for Grades 2-3

Alternate Activity 2: Whipping Cream

Part of Moral Tales

Activity time: 20 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • A fairly narrow bowl with high sides
  • A manually operated egg-beater
  • One to two pints of whipping cream
  • Sugar to taste
  • Pieces of cake or cut-up fresh fruit for all participants
  • Several aprons
  • Paper plates, plastic forks and napkins for all participants

Preparation for Activity

  • Prepare or buy whipping cream and cake or fruit that can be topped with whipped cream.
  • Identify a clean table space, low enough for children this age to stand in front of while whipping cream.

Description of Activity

Taking a turn at whipping cream with a manually operated egg-beater provides a tangible, edible lesson in perseverance. Whipping cream by hand is not easy for second- or third-grade children and individuals will tire quickly. After they persevere at a difficult challenge together, they will receive a delicious reward for their efforts.

Allow each child to don an apron and take a turn at using the egg-beater. When the cream is whipped, serve it on cake, gingerbread, or cut-up fresh fruit.

The whipping part of this activity does not require that all the children stand around waiting for their turn. If you wish, engage children in whipping the cream simultaneously with their work on Activity 6: Making Hero Comic Books.

Including All Participants

Some children may be lactose intolerant, have diabetes or have another reason they cannot eat the snack you have planned. Check with parents and your director of religious education and parents to ascertain any allergies or other limitations. Parents of lactose-intolerant children can sometimes pre-medicate a child if they know about this activity in advance. Or, children can eat the cake or fruit without the whipped cream. If there is a diabetic child in the group, consult their parents as to what they can eat. Perhaps they could eat some whipped cream that has no sugar added.