Teacher Tips and Tools

Nutrition Around the World

When you think of Mexico, what food comes immediately to mind? If dining in an Italian restaurant, you would expect to find pasta on the menu. Why aren't tacos an Italian food? The foods we eat are determined by our social customs, climate and geography, and economy.

For example, some cultures use insects in their diet.
Check out these yummy recipes!

The diversity of the foods we eat
is reflected in snacks from around the world

 

 The Task

Your group works for the Chief of Protocol at the White House. There will be a State Dinner next week and your job is to create an authentic meal from the country (assigned by your teacher). You will be responsible
for developing a nutritionally balanced menu as well as traditional dress for the servers, table settings, and room decorations. You will also be responsible for briefing the President and his staff on the proper method of greeting the visiting dignitaries, specific customs associated with social gatherings, and background about the evolution of customs.

As a group you will plan the menu.

In addition, each of you has been assigned a specific role:

food	Determine which foods are commonly eaten.
costume for servers	Design traditional  garb for those serving the meal.
table settings	Prepare and set up a typical dining table.
room decorations	Decorate the East Room in a traditional style.
customs for social gatherings	Brief the President and his staff on acceptable social skills.

Each group will briefly present the significance of the foods, table settings, traditional dress, decorations, and etiquette selected.

Since your rotation at the White House is almost complete, following the presentations, you must apply for a transfer to one of the countries. As part of your application, you must explain which climactic, social, or geographic reasons affected your decision and why you would be the best person for the position.

The Product

Your group will plan a traditional meal encompassing the customs of the country.

The significance of the menu items, dress, and decorations will be explained in a 3-5 minute presentation by the group.
Prepare a menu card listing the items for your meal. All the menus will be compiled into a cookbook book which will include recipes, cultural information and illustrations depicting traditional dress and customs.

After the presentations, each person will fill out an application for transfer to one of the countries presented by another group.

The Assessment

You will be graded on your daily work on the research process as well as on your final product and presentation.

Research Process- Daily Assessment Tools	Research Process- Final Assessment Rubric (Student/Self)	Research Process - Final Assessment Rubric (Teacher)
Items Used in the Research Process (notes, outline, drafts,works cited, etc.)	Final Product - Scoring Tools	Reflection Checklist/Scoring Tool

The Research Process

Step One: Questioning As you look at the task above, list as many questions as you can that will help you to understand and investigate this topic. THINK ABOUT ... What do you already know about the country? What do you need to know to begin your investigation? in order to complete your assigned tasks?

Jump-start your thinking! Try these questions to get you started, then add some of your own. How does the geography of the country affect the cuisine? Which climatic features have the greatest influence on the customs of the country? How do people greet one another in this country?

Step One Continued: Planning After you have generated your questions, determine which resources you will use to help answer your questions. Consider the scope of the resources you have available and decide what resources will best answer each question. Remember to record the resources as you locate them so you can return to them if necessary. Using a graphic organizer will help to keep your information organized. A cluster diagram may be helpful to brainstorm questions and help to plan research. You may choose to use another graphic organizer if you wish.

Step Two: Gathering, Sorting, and Sifting

In this step you will be using a variety of library resources to find answers to your questions. Tip:If you did not formulate questions in Step 1, go back and do it now. A topic is not a question. Gather answers from variety of sources: Remember to cite your references. Check the MLA guidelines and examples for citing resources; however, your school may use a different format. Sort your research findings by using note cards and a graphic organizer. Sift through the resources, eliminating those that do not answer your questions. Print and Nonprint Resources Use the following: Automated Card Catalog BCPL CARLweb Online Catalog Try some of these tips for using print and nonprint materials Other resources which may be available in your library might include: Culturgrams Worldmark Encyclopedia of Nations Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture and Daily Life Lands and Peoples National Geographic Peoples and Places

Electronic Resources Your library may also have CD ROM resources such as The CIA World Fact Book World Atlas. Check with your librarian for available CDs. Digital Content and Databases Internet Resources When using the Internet, remember to examine your information critically to determine its authenticity, accuracy and value Try the following sites for food and country information: Food Sites The Global Gastronomer Food Guide Edibilia Cultural Nutrition Food.com Global Gourmet  Cuisines of the World Countries Library of Congress Country Studies Excite Travel Page The Lonely Planet Trip.com

Step Three: Synthesis and Evaluation

Check point! It is time to assess your progress.You will need to organize and evaluate your research findings.Work with your group to figure out how much you have learned. Is the puzzle beginning to take shape? Are you able to make out any patterns? Try moving your information pieces around until some kind of picture emerges. You are looking for insight. What have you learned so far? What more do you need? You are trying to "tease" meaning out of fragments. Synthesis requires rearranging pieces of information until a new version emerges.

Now that you have gathered information, stop to evaluate your findings. Have you found sufficient details to answer all your questions? Can you throw away material which is not useful or does not answer your questions? Do you need to rearrange the information in different categories? Can you condense or combine the information? Do you need to develop new questions to adequately cover your topic? What significance do you think ... geography and climate play in the evolution of customs? climate plays in how people dress and what foods are prepared? traditions and history have for the modern society of your country?.

Step 4: Refined Gathering/Sorting/Sifting 2

Now that you have synthesized your information and evaluated your progress, you are ready to locate additional information to answer your questions and further develop your topic. Try using a variety of search tools for the Internet. Each search tool will produce a different set of results. Hone your search strategy skills. Use the back button on your browser to return to this page.

Look at your graphic organizer to determine which questions you need to answer. Search for answers to any new questions generated in Step 3. Return to resources presented in Step 2, if necessary.

Step 5: Final Synthesis and Evaluation

Synthesis is the act of pulling your research and ideas together to form a new whole. Recall your task and review the rubric for your presentation. Do you have enough food options to plan a nutritionally-balanced meal? Which climactic and geographic factors influenced menu items and customs? How will the servers be dressed? Design your table setting. As you compare the information on your graphic organizer and the rubric, make sure you have met all of the requirements and decide how you will present your information.

Use the following chart to help organize your presentation:  Items for Presentation Geographic Influence Climactic Influence

Step 6: Presentation

Are you ready to prepare your product? Recall your questions and task. Review all of your materials to prepare for your final product. It should reflect your efforts during the past steps in the research process. Questioning and Planning Gathering, Sorting, and Sifting Synthesis and Evaluation		Gather all of your materials, plan your menu and traditional costume, create your decorations and table setting, and compile your briefing for the President (this is the oral presentation describing the significance of your choices.) Are you ready to present your product?
		After all presentations have been completed, you must fill out your application for transfer.