This fun, interactive activity comes to you from Tonya Tabb, a FACS teacher at the sister school in my district!  The unique thing about this “Chopped: Recipe Version” is that no food or cooking are required!  This is a great activity to use when you have a few days at the end of a semester or right before a break to keep your students engaged! 

Set

• Write the mystery ingredients on index cards and seal them in envelopes so students can tear them open simultaneously similar to how they open the baskets on the show.
• Explain the concept of the show to students who may not be familiar with it. This can be a verbal explanation and/or a video intro if you have a DVD of the show or a subscription to Discovery. I’m including this one for those of you that may not be familiar with the show, but it’s your call whether you want to show it to your students. Note: The second mystery basket of ingredients on the video may be more school appropriate than the first.
• If you truly want to get into the show, you could play this YouTube clip of the Introduction to Chopped as you begin the competition.
• Play a sample round, using the category SNACKS to demonstrate how the game and rounds will work.

Materials

• iPads or Laptops
• Projector & Screen
• Chopped DVD (optional)
• Envelopes with Index Cards

Directions

• You are going to have the opportunity to participate in a similar, but adapted version, challenge in Chopped – Recipe Version. Here is how it will work:
  
• You will work with the students assigned to your group to complete each challenge
  
• Your group will be presented with a list of mystery ingredients that must be included in your chosen recipe (all groups will receive the same list of mystery ingredients for each challenge)
  
• Your group will find a recipe to present to the class that matches the theme, is creative, appealing, and includes all of the ingredients presented to you as mystery ingredients
  
• You can assume that you also have available for use a common kitchen pantry of ingredients such as flour, sugar, milk, eggs, spices, etc. If you are not sure if an ingredient in your recipe would be provided, check with the teacher for clarification. You will also have available almost any type of kitchen equipment needed: blender, mixer, microwave, ice cream machine, etc.
  
• Be sure to be creative and unique when choosing a recipe! If you present the same recipe as another group, you will be eliminated from that challenge.
  
• Once you choose a recipe, your group will prepare a Google Slide Presentation of your recipe. Your presentation should include:
  • The name of the recipe you chose
  • A hyperlink to the full recipe you chose
  • A picture of the recipe you chose
  • Be prepared to discuss/explain your recipe and how you used the mystery ingredients
    
• Your classmates will be the judges of the competition. After each group has made their presentation, each student will cast a vote for the recipe they feel meets the criteria the best (creativity, appealing, and best use of mystery ingredients). If there is a tie, in scoring, the teacher will break the tie using the tiebreaker for the challenge – listed with the mystery ingredients.
• Scoring: The group with the highest score for a challenge will be considered the winner and receive a reward. The group receiving the highest score after all challenges are complete will be determined the Chopped – Recipe Champion!

Attachments

• Chopped Recipe Version: Directions (PDF)
• Chopped Recipe Version: Challenges (PDF)
• Chopped Recipe Version: Sample Presentation (PDF)

Similar Lessons

• Chopped
• Chicken Tender “Chopped” Challenge