School Tales: A Taste of Culture

Last year I thought up a fun, culminating experience for my students to display their work and "sell" our school's home ec program to our administrators. I wanted it to incorporate a variety of elements from the first 2 six weeks: greeting adults, party planning, meal management, food preparation, culture and diversity, and technology applications. I wanted the kids to take an active role in learning, work as a team to achieve this "goal". However, I was tired and busy so we didn't do the project last year. This year, I decided that although "tired" and "busy" would no longer be valid excuses, I would "pilot test" the project with my favorite class only.

Our Mission: to plan and throw a "culture" party for our administrators, teachers, and staff.

Our Tasks:
Name the party ("A Taste of Culture")
Choose world regions and countries on which to focus
Research and collect information on these regions and countries
Design an attractive powerpoint presentation about our countries and regions
Design tri-fold display boards highlighting each country chosen
Select recipes from each region.
Design, copy, and distribute invitations.
Make a shopping list of ingredients.
Decide on a decoration plan.
Make a shopping list of decoration items and supplies.
Compose lab plans and an action plan for each cooking team.
Prepare, store, warm-up, and display food items.
Properly greet and interact with guests.
CLEAN UP! (Our LEAST favorite activity)

Our Regions and Countries:
Asia (China)
Latin America (Puerto Rico)
Middle East (Egypt)
Mediterranean (Italy)

Our Menu:
Sweet and Sour Chicken
Beef Lo Mein
Lamb Kebabs
Lemon-Thyme Hummus with Baked Pita Chips
Tahini Butter Cookies
Guava Empanadillas
Meat Empanadas
Tiramisu Cheesecake
Bruschetta

We actually prepared everything yesterday except for the pita chips, bruschetta, and lamb. Of course, everything went WRONG yesterday:

"Ms. K, there wasn't enough cookie dough so I just added more sugar and flour!"

"It says combine the noodles and cabbage. What does that mean?"

"What is a saucepan?"

"I couldn't find the soy sauce so I used oyster sauce instead."

"I creamed the sugar, cheeses, and flour together...was that right?"

WHAAAAAAT?! Have you not learned anything? Have I not taught you anything? Read the recipe! Follow the recipe...to the letter. Needless to say, six students stayed after school to re-do some of their foods. Today was our BIG "show & tell" day. I think I have possibly never been more stressed out in my life. Trying to keep 12 ornery, excitable middle schoolers on task and getting things done in a presentable manner is no "piece of cake."

In the end, it was a wonderful experience for my students to be able to display and explain their work, be praised for and accept this praise of their work, and interact with teachers in a less threatening environment. So many teachers commented not only on the quality of their work, but also how gracious, mannerly, and enthusiastic the kids were. It made me so proud! One of the kids remarked that "this was fun and we should do this next month". Uh, I think I've had enough "fun" for 5 years.