Sharing Traditions
Author: Sarah Pounders
Overview
Students share recipes of their favorite holiday foods and research the origins and historical uses of important plant ingredients.
Standards (Microsoft
Word Document)
Materials:
-
recipes from home
-
paper and pencil or chalkboard and chalk
-
reference books or Internet access
Background
Ethnobotany is the scientific study of the relationships that exist between people and plants. Ethnobotany explorations can expose students to cultural diversity issues and ethnic traditions surrounding plants, helping them to appreciate our differences and celebrate our similarities as we observe special occasions. Plants play a number of roles in our celebrations, most predominantly as FOOD! Most holidays include traditional meals shared by family and friends, so investigating the important plant ingredients needed for key dishes is a great place to start your ethnobotanical journey.
Laying the Groundwork
Ask students to bring in a recipe for their favorite holiday dish. As a class, identify and list all the plant ingredients in each recipe. Ask, Do some recipes share the same key ingredient?
Exploration
In groups or as a class, have students research the holiday plant ingredients. For each plant, ask:
- In what part of the world did the plant originate? Does it grow in other places now? If so, how did it travel there? On a map, identify the plant’s origin and places where it is found today.
- How did people use the plant in the past? How is it used today? How is it used in holiday celebrations?
- What growing conditions does this plant need? Could it grow at your school?
- What is the nutritional value of the plant? Find recipes that it.
Making Connections
Ask students to interview relatives, neighbors, or friends about their favorite holiday foods and make lists of the plants featured in these recipes. As a class, compare the lists. What plant-derived ingredients do these dishes share? What ingredients are unique to different cultures?
Conclude your research with a classroom celebration and invite everyone to bring in a favorite plant-derived dish
for the class to sample.
|
-lo.jpg)
