THE TASTIEST PROGRAMS YOU’VE NEVER TRIED
From kindergarten to high school, our hands-on food education programs meet students where they are, and give them tools to go further.
Food Explorers
Family Table
Sensory Kitchen
Edible Kitchen
Sun, Soil, Sky
N.A.S.A.
Sensory Kitchen
A calming, multi-sensory, hands-on cooking program designed for high-needs SPED classrooms, focused on exploration, confidence, and independence.
Program Overview
Sensory Kitchen creates a safe, joyful space for students with diverse learning needs to explore food using all five senses. Through guided, tactile cooking activities, students develop fine motor skills, communication, and self-expression. Every session is built around simplicity, routine, and success, using adaptive tools, visual prompts, and recipes that engage the whole child.
Chef Anastasia was sure to review key words have students repeat them. ENL students so need this.
We loved this residency. The kids enjoyed it. It helped some of my pickier eaters try new things. It also taught them easy healthy eating. I hope to see you next year!
Chef Anastasia is awesome, engaging, & amazing with the kids. Patience of a saint!
My students and I Loveeeeeee this class =)
Program Details
Sensory Kitchen is a 45-60min in-school program that offers calming, multi-sensory cooking experiences tailored for high-needs SPED classrooms. Students explore textures, smells, and tastes while preparing simple, healthy recipes that support motor skills, communication, and self-expression.
Every session is built around simplicity, routine, and success, using adaptive tools, visual prompts, and recipes designed for a joyful, inclusive space where every student can engage and succeed.
Topics Include
Sensory exploration: smell, touch, sound, sight, taste
Food textures, colors, and temperatures
Motor development from peeling, mixing, chopping
IEP and SEL aligned goals through cooking routines
Social-emotional learning through food
Format
- In-person at NYC schools during the school day
- All tools, ingredients, and visual supports provided
- Instruction pacing tailored to each class
- Workstations for every student
Sample lesson plan
“Taste the Rainbow Skewers”
Objective: Build knife skills, color recognition, and sensory vocabulary while learning about the benefits of eating the rainbow.
Standards Alignment: Common Core ELA (speaking, listening, reading), Health Ed (nutrition), Math (fractions, measurements)
Activities
Sensory Warm-up: Explore the Rainbow Chart. Students touch, smell, and name fruits and vegetables from each color group, describing textures and tastes.
Prep: Students use safe, adaptive tools to peel, slice, and cut a variety of fruits and vegetables provided.
Challenges: Take turns spinning the Rainbow Wheel. When it lands on a color, each student selects a fruit or vegetable in that color and adds it to their skewer. Repeat until each skewer features a full rainbow.
Wrap-up: Students share their finished skewers and describe each piece using sensory words (e.g., “squishy,” “juicy,” “crunchy”). Reflect on which colors were more flavorful and what nutrients they offer.
Bring The Joy of Hands-On Learning
Back to Your School
