Research the history and culture behind a favorite family recipe

In this lesson, students select a favorite family recipe and research the family and cultural traditions associated with it, along with the history of its ingredients.

Objectives

Students learn about history and culture by studying a particular food that is important to their family.
Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.

Learning outcomes

Students will select a favorite family recipe and interview family members about the cultural and family customs associated with the recipe.
Students will research the ingredients of the recipe using a "history of food" timeline.
Students will use Office Publisher 2007 to create a recipe flyer for a class cookbook.

Lesson procedure

Introduction

Think about your favorite family events. What words do you associate with these events? The list might include aunts, uncles, games, food, hugs, grandparents, formal attire, and delicious desserts.

For many cultures, food is one of the most common things associated with family gatherings. One way to learn about the history and culture of different people is to look at the foods that they eat.

The Jambalaya one family eats at its annual summer picnic has a very different history and cultural background, for instance, than the Lutefisk that a Norwegian family may serve on Christmas Eve. The Hoppin' John (a rice and bean dish) a southern United States family eats on New Year's Day is very different from the Guthuk (barley crumb food with filling) that a Tibetan family eats for its New Year's celebration.

In this activity, you and your classmates will each select one of your family’s favorite recipes, interview your family about the cultural and family traditions associated with the dish, research the recipe and its ingredients using a food timeline, and create a flyer about it that will become part of a class cookbook.

Lesson extension activities

Ask your students to find the current price of the ingredients used in the recipe and compare with the price of the ingredients from 20 years ago. Students may include the information in their flyers or present it in a Microsoft Office Excel 2007 spreadsheet.

Hold an International Foods Lunch to celebrate the completion of the cookbook. Ask every student to prepare and bring the dish they researched.

Distribute copies of the class cookbook online to all of the student’s families.

Student activity

Follow the steps below to guide your students through this lesson plan. See student handout link at right.

Step 1: "Choose your favorite family recipe, and research it"
Step 2: "Create a flyer for the class cookbook"

Conclusion

Students can be assessed on their recipe flyer content, writing conventions, and design.

Flyer content

Does the flyer include the family recipe?
Does the flyer include information about the cultural traditions associated with the recipe?
Does the flyer include information about why the recipe is important to the student's family?
Did the student include three historical notes?