Food For Thought: Understanding China through foodNCTA lesson plan - ChinaSara ShenkLevel: 9th grade Global Studies honors

New York Social Studies Standard 3 GeographyStudents will: use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of the geography of the interdependent world in which we live - local, national, and global - including the distribution of people, places, and environments over the Earth’s surface.

Essential question: What can food tell us about the geography and culture of China?

Objectives:Students will be able to identify how geography has influenced the food eaten in various regions in China.Students will be able to describe ways that eating habits illustrate cultural normsStudents will be able to describe ways that globalization is influencing Chinese culture as it relates to food.

Anticipatory Set: Ask students to define the word “Cuisine”. Ask how many students like

Chinese food. Have a few students share their favorite Chinese dish. Tell them that most of the Chinese food we get in the United States is from the area of Canton and only represents a small sample of Chinese food.

Lesson Steps:Day One:

Have each student answer the “Think and Respond” section of handout #1. Have them pair with another student and share their responses. Lead a whole class discussion of their responses. Point out for students where Hangzhou, Xian, Beijing and Shanghai are on a

wall map. Show students my slideshow of foods from those places. Students should be

recording observations/questions on their handout. Discuss

Day Two: Assign students to small groups (Szechuan, Hunan, Cantonese, Beijing or

Mandarin, Fujian and the Autonomous regions of Tibet and Xinjiang-Uyghur) Each group will explore the cuisine of a particular region of China and make a

poster including all the information on the assignment sheet They will work on this for the rest of the period

Day Three:

Each group will finish and present their poster

Extension ideas: Invite a Chinese chef, restaurant owner or parent to talk to students about

the cultural norms around eating/special foods Have a local Chinese restaurant donate some examples of regional dishes

that students can sample

Materials needed:1) Map of China2) Handout #13) Food in Hangzhou, Shanghai, Xian and Beijing slide show4) Handout #25) Computers with internet access

Web Resources:Chinese Food for Kids: http://www.china-family-adventure.com/chinese-food.htmlThe Global Gourmet: http://www.globalgourmet.com/destinations/hongkong/hkcuisine.html#axzz2CaxT1NW3Foods from Every Country: http://www.foodbycountry.com/Algeria-to-France/China.html#bChinese Regional Cuisine: http://www.ibiblio.org/chineseculture/contents/food/p-food-c01s03.htmlAbout.com Chinese Regional Cooking: http://chinesefood.about.com/od/regionalchinesecuisine/a/cookingstyles.htm?rd=1CNN Travel: Chinese Regional Specialties: http://travel.cnn.com/shanghai/eat/around-china-31-dishes-808639

Adapted from a Peace Corps lesson on Food and Culture:http://wws.peacecorps.gov/wws/educators/lessonplans/lesson.cfm?lpid=2886

Food, Culture and Geography Handout #1

Name__________________________________________ Period______

Think and Respond:1) Is there an “American“ Cuisine? If yes what dishes do you think of as being typically American? If no, why not?

2) Give some examples of regional differences in American food.

3) What are some examples of ways geography affects these regional differences?

4) Are there any dishes that New York is especially famous for? Any ideas why these foods were developed or became famous here?

Food, Culture and Geography Handout #2

Name____________________________________________ Period_______

As you watch the slide show about food in China, list examples of cultural similarities and differences between the United States and China as well as any geographic connections you can make.

Similarities:

Differences:

Geographic connections to food:

Regional Food Research Group Assignment

1) Each group will be assigned to research the food of a region in China

2) Divide research topics among members of your group. Topics should include:A) The geographic features of your region (climate, location, landforms)B) Food specialties of your regionC) Information about the Ethnic minorities in your regionD) How the geography of your region influences what food is grown

there, how it is grown and cooking styles.

3) Your group will then create a poster about food in your region using each student’s research and including text, pictures and a map identifying your region.

4) Go to the Chinese Food, Culture and Geography section on the high school library web page first to begin your research. You may then branch out for searches related to your specific topic.

5) You will be presenting your posters tomorrow in class. Each member must take part in the presentation.