SOCIAL SCIENCES
particularly authentic source , some students turn to The Accomplisht Cook , by Robert May , first published in 1660 . Our meal is a highlight of the class ; an event students look forward to and talk about long afterward .
Recently , students in a multicultural literature class on our campus read “ Gate 4-A ” by Naomi Shihab Nye , where Arabic mamool cookies play a prominent role . A student in the class happened to own the cookie molds needed for making the cookies , so the class gathered in the culinary arts classroom and made them together . Another student said of the activity , “ We had fun making the cookies , of course , but it also made me feel more culturally aware . It helped me to see the Middle East in a different light . I don ’ t think I ’ ll ever forget that story .”
Shakespeare students present their Renaissance dishes
Other book food projects my English students have created , presented and served include The Joy Luck Club dumplings , Great Gatsby teas , American Sniper MREs , The Help pies ( missing the key ingredient , of course ), and “ Keep Hoping ” sandwiches from Hope Was Here . Students tend to remember and discuss these books and their projects months and sometimes years later .
The Joy Luck Club dumplings
SOCIAL SCIENCES
High school history , geography and foreign language courses are also ideal platforms for culinary arts integration . Students may research cultural influences of various countries and make a representative dish to present and discuss with their classmates . We recommend www . foodbycountry . com as an excellent resource for learning about the food of many countries .
A recipe translation challenge is an excellent activity for a foreign language class . In this activity , students pair up with ingredients and a recipe . One student translates the recipe into the studied language as the other student attempts to follow the instructions and make the dish . Since the test is eating the created dish , students are highly motivated to translate accurately .
Another activity that we have incorporated into a number of classes is a Family Dish project . In this cultural-awareness activity , students bring their family ’ s favorite dish to class to present and share . We have used this activity in health classes to study the family unit , English classes as part of a cultural identity project , and world history classes to introduce cultural differences . We ’ ve found that , aside from being enjoyable and enhancing content retention , this project helps to build a sense of community and respect within the classroom .
STEAMed Magazine
41
January 2016 Edition