Environmental Super Hero Project for November - Just in Time for Thanksgiving

Today we spent much of the morning making vegan pumpkin bread, following a tried-and-true recipe that is delicious with or without nuts (we didn't add them, of course, but you could barring allergies). We worked in four different groups, each group working together cooperatively to make sure all the ingredients were measured and mixed together properly. (Cooking is awesome that way - so many skills are being practiced, academic and social.)

After putting the batter into the 12 prepared pans, we took a break to read V is for Vegan: The ABCs of Being Kind. This book talks about veganism as a way to eat healthy, show compassion, and being kind to the environment. Some children were surprised that many people do not even eat honey or wear wool. I told my students that I was a vegetarian for many years, but I recently started eating meat. I did try to make sure it was locally farmed and compassionately raised. Questions ensued, and I expanded my answer to say that I wanted the animals I ate to at least have a happy life on a small farm rather than in a factory farm. Augustus asked, "So how do they die? They just get old and die?" So, yeah, there's that.

This afternoon, each tiny loaf - minus one - was wrapped in freezer paper and tied with kitchen string. One of the loaves was our trial loaf. We deemed it "super delicious."

Please enjoy the bread right away OR pop it into the freezer to have on your Thanksgiving table. The recipe, if it did not make it home with the bread, will be emailed soon.