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Cultural Food Combos

Peanut butter and jelly in a burrito? Sloppy Joes with Korean bulgogi? Why not? Students will explore the beauty of diverse food combinations.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

Steps

  • Step 1

    Read a book about children who have diverse backgrounds such as "Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match/Marisol McDonald no combina" by Monica Brown and Sara Palacios or "Black, White, Just Right!" by Marguerite W. Davol and Irene Trivas. Discuss ways the characters combine aspects of various cultures into a unique representation of themselves. 

  • Step 2

    Ask students to think of foods that represent various cultures. Top of mind they might say tacos or burritos, wontons, lasagna, etc. But urge them to broaden the list to include Peruvian corn dishes, Russian soups, Ethiopian injera, and other foods from around the globe. Ask them to combine foods in fun and tasty ways to create unique dishes. Perhaps they will want to spread peanut butter and jelly on a burrito as Marisol McDonald enjoys or combine the spices and ingredients of some other favorites.

  • Step 3

    Have students illustrate a picture of their new taste treat. Ask them to label the foods in the language of the food's origin, if they know the words.

  • Step 4

    Have students present their art and talk about the foods they paired and why they chose the combination.

Standards

SS: Individual Development and Identity: Describe factors important to the development of personal identity and the context of identity within families, peer or affinity groups, schools, communities, and nationalities. 

SS: Individual Development and Identity: Describe factors important to the development of personal identity and the context of identity within families, peer or affinity groups, schools, communities, and nationalities. 

Adaptations

Invite a guest, perhaps a student's family member or another teacher, to come and speak about their culture. Perhaps they can teach the class a few words in a different language or bring in sample of a traditional food.

Ask children to research traditional games  in various countries. They can draw pictures of children playing popular games from around the world.