Icing On The Cake

This lesson uses cake decorating to teach ratio and proportion.

A lesson plan for grade 8 Mathematics

By Donna Johnson

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Learning outcomes

Students will be able to answer the following questions:

• How do you use ratio and proportion to half and double an icing recipe?
• How do you calculate unit prices?
• How do you calculate a total grocery bill for materials needed?
• How do you decorate a cupcake like a pumpkin?

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

1.5 Hours

Materials/resources

• 1 4oz container of meringue powder
• 4 boxes of confectioners sugar
• 1 48oz container of vegetable shortening
• 1 17.3oz container of salt
• 1 2oz bottle of clear vanilla extract
• 1 2oz bottle of clear butter extract
• 1 container of orange cake coloring paste
• 1 container of brown cake coloring paste
• 10 decorating bags
• 10 couplers
• 10 round cake tips
• 30 cupcakes
• Spatulas
• Mixer
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Paper towels

Technology resources

Overhead projector

Pre-activities

Students will need to know how to assemble a decorating bag, load it and hold the decorating bag.

Activities

Before class begins:

1. Make one batch of icing.
2. Color 2 cups of icing brown for the pumpkin stems.
3. Color 5 cups of icing orange for the pumpkins.
4. Bake 30 cupcakes.

During class:

1. Display all ingredients for icing.
2. Pass out attached handouts
3. Read ingredient list together with class.
4. Have students complete page 1 of handout.
5. Read recipe together with class.
6. Mix one batch of icing following recipe as students watch.
7. Demonstrate how to pipe a pumpkin on a cupcake.
8. Allow students to share bags, couplers and spatulas to decorate their own cupcakes.
9. Have students complete the remainder of the handouts.

Assessment

Decorated cupcakes and handouts are used for grading.

Supplemental information

Cake Decorating Manual

Icing attachment

Related websites

None.

Comments

Icing colors could easily be varied for other holidays or occasions: red/green for Christmas, pink/red for Valentines, etc.