This DT scheme of work for Y5/6 is packed with interesting information and practical activities to help your children learn all about great British food. They will explore some sweet and savoury national dishes of England, Scotland and Wales, before moving on to developing an understanding of how cuisines from other countries have influenced what is eaten in Britain today. Finally, children will practise the important life skill of how to plan and shop for a meal!

With lesson plans, engaging and informative slideshow presentations, differentiated activities and a range of handy printable resources, this 'Great British Dishes' scheme contains all the ingredients for fantastic cookery lessons, all in one simple click!

You might also like our Brilliant Britain Topic Bundle – perfect if you're looking for a cross-curricular approach to your teaching.

Savoury English Dishes

In this first lesson, children develop their understanding of what a national dish is. They explore some national savoury dishes of England, looking at the origin of each one and beginning to think about how healthy it is. In their independent activities, children follow a recipe to cook a traditional cottage pie, or in the alternative activity, they first sample, and then plan, their own ploughman’s lunch.

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Sweet English Dishes

Children explore some of the popular national sweet dishes of England. They focus on how healthy each one is, and learn about the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) values for sugar. They look at seasonal fruits as a natural source of sugar for ingredients of desserts. In their independent activities, children either make a fruit crumble, or research and then design their own Eton mess dessert.

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National Scottish Dishes

In this lesson, children find out how oats, a staple crop in Scotland, are grown, harvested and processed. They then explore some of the national dishes of this country which include oatmeal as an ingredient. In their independent activities, children can design sweet and savoury toppings for oatcakes, or follow a recipe to make shortbread.

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National Welsh Dishes

Children learn about the importance of sheep farming in Wales, and how this has led to lamb becoming a popular ingredient in a lot of Welsh food. They explore a range of popular dishes from the country. In their independent activities, children choose ingredients for their own Welsh rarebit muffins. Alternatively, they can learn more about a year in the life of a sheep farmer.

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Influences from around the World

Children explore how and why the cuisines of other countries have influenced British dishes over the years, with a focus on Anglo-Indian food. In their independent activities, they research how other countries around the world have influenced British cooking, or have similar dishes. In the alternative activity, children make the Anglo-Indian inspired recipe of Coronation chicken.

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Plan and Shop for a Meal

In this final lesson, children first learn about the shelf life of different products, and find out the difference between ‘best before’ and ‘use by’ labels. They then look at the steps that need to be taken in order to plan and shop for a specific meal. In their independent activities, children are challenged to plan a meal that they think represents great British food. Alternatively, children are challenged to create an artwork that they feel represents great British food.

View Lesson 6