Food: Culture and food
Objective
Students will explore the connection between manners of eating and culture. Students will explore the idea that a social agreement, rather than a “right” or “wrong” way of doing things, constructs manners and culture. Students will come to understand that culture, such as eating habits/manners travel with individuals as they migrate.
Time: 60-80 min
Materials:
- Senegalese Eating Mat and *sheets
- Senegalese Eating Bowl and *baking bowls
- *Sarongs for girls to wear as long skirts
- *Vegetables and Rice or Ceeb U Jen (che-boo-gen) (recipe attached)
- “My Culture and Food” work page
- *Home made Senegalese Hand washing bowl (large bowl, soap, and a water kettle)
OR
Hand Sanitizer
*indicates materials not included in the artifact box
Procedure:
To activate prior knowledge ask students:
What are good manners when eating?
What are some eating do’s at your home?
What are some eating don’ts at your home?
Where do you eat? How?
- Show students where Senegal is located on the map of Africa if they have not yet seen it.
- Review the “Senegalese Eating Around the Bowl” page as a group. Encourage students to think of these eating styles as different as opposed to wrong.
- Put students in groups of 4-5 students.
- Have two volunteers assist students in using the hand washing bowl if you have one, otherwise use hand sanitzer.
- Ask groups to sit in a circle on the mat/blanket.Remind students to take off shoes and girls to have on modest dress
- Once all groups have been seated place bowls before them. They should not eat until the host (you) give them permission.
- Remind them of the do’s and don’ts briefly and invite them to eat.
- When students are complete invite them to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer and a towel, and return to their seats to work on their “My Culture and Food” workpage.
- After everyone is complete hold a class meeting. Some example questions are below:
- Did eating around the bowl feel different than how you typically eat meals?
- How did eating around the bowl make you feel?
- Did you feel comfortable?
- Was it difficult to remember your Senegalese manners?
- How do you think people from different cultural backgrounds feel when they migrate and have to use our eating manners?
Ceeb U Jen Recipe
(this is a loose reproduction)
- Tomato paste
- Garlic (ground)
- Onion (ground)
- Fish or Chicken (optional)
- Assorted vegetables(carrot, potato, etc.)
- Rice