Use a Butter Knife Safely
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What you will learn
- 1Ask a grown-up before you use a butter knife
- 2Hold a butter knife by the handle with the blade pointing down
- 3Spread soft foods on bread from the middle out
- 4Put the knife down flat on the plate when you are done
Mini Lesson
A butter knife is a small knife for soft foods. It has a rounded tip. It has no sharp edge. With a grown-up's OK, you can use it to spread and cut soft foods.
🏠 The Life Skills Way (step by step)
- ASK FIRST: get a grown-up's OK before you pick up a knife.
- HOLD IT RIGHT: hold the handle. Keep the blade pointing down and away.
- STAY STILL: sit or stand still at the table.
- SPREAD: spread soft foods like butter, jam, or hummus.
- PUT IT DOWN: lay the knife flat on the plate when you are done.
🍌 Soft Foods You Can Cut
- SOFT ONLY: a butter knife can cut soft foods, like a banana.
- USE A BOARD: cut on a cutting board, not in your hand.
Use only a butter knife, and only with a grown-up's OK. Sharp knives are grown-up tools - never touch them. Never walk around with a knife or wave it. A grown-up is in charge whenever a knife is out.
Words to know
butter knife
A small knife with a rounded tip and no sharp edge.
e.g. I use a butter knife to spread jam.
handle
The part of a tool you hold.
e.g. Hold the knife by the handle.
blade
The flat part of a knife that spreads or cuts.
e.g. Keep the blade pointing down.
spread
Push a soft food across in a thin layer.
e.g. I spread butter on my bread.
cutting board
A flat board you cut food on.
e.g. Cut the banana on a cutting board.
💡 Handy Tip: take a little butter at a time. Soft butter is easier to spread than cold, hard butter.
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