Title: Our Community is a Fusion
Duration: 40 minutes
Objectives: Students will be able to: Discuss the idea of people as a fusion in society. One group is not responsible for the development of New Haven, but many groups of people in collaboration with one another, including those who have historically faced discrimination and oppression.
Vocabulary: Community, fusion
Materials: Chart paper, Let’s Eat!:Mealtime Around the World by Lynne Marie, flip books.
Ask the students to think about their favorite places to eat in New Haven. Read Let’s Eat!:Mealtime Around the World, as a whole class. Students should think about the commonalities between the characters in the story, what they are eating, as well as what they are using or where they are. The teacher will encourage the students to share their observations while the teacher records the commonalities on a chart.
The teacher will project or share local menus with students in small groups. The students are encouraged to observe and discuss what they have eaten or would like to try.
With teacher guidance, students will also be able to use the internet or cookbooks to search for images of different types of food. Ask the students to consider which food items, such as rice or scallions, are enjoyed by members of the classroom. Where have they seen (food item named) in their community? Discuss: How can food bring people together? How are people more similar than they may realize? Refer to the flipbook for student tasks.
Diversity that we can taste and appreciate in New Haven thrives in many restaurants in the downtown area. Share images and menu items with students from restaurants and discuss how the origin of their cuisine have fused together and created food that is representative of all people in many dishes. Note: Restaurant examples should be culturally appropriate. During discussions about meal observations, the teacher will discuss how all food groups are met in the different types of meals and how they are vital to the health and wellbeing of all people, regardless of origin and ethnicity.
The teacher may reference the following link from Harvard School of Public Health to briefly discuss the importance of a balanced diet for all people and how that is recognized in each of the meals that represent a fusion of culture.
“Copyright © 2015 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. For more information about The Kid’s Healthy Eating Plate, please see The Nutrition Source, Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/kids-healthy-eating-plate.”
Zeneli- Italian Food
Midpoint Istanbul Fine Dining- Turkish Food
Koon Thai- Thai Food
Mamoun’s Falafel- Syrian Food
Bon Chon Chicken - Korean Food
Camacho Garage- Mexican Food
House of Naan- Indian Food
Ali Baba- Pakistani, Mediterranean, Indian Fusion Food
Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant- Ethiopian Food
Golden Wok- Chinese Food
Google Map Integration Activity- The teacher will project Google Maps. As a whole class, students will share different restaurants and types of food that they enjoy. Using Google Map directions, the teacher will type each restaurant name and search as a continuous journey throughout New Haven. The students will be able to see how different cultures and food intersect within the community. People have worked together and learned from one another to form cuisine that fuses with traditions from all around the world. This is another way in which New Haveners have come together. This recognition can help students to develop a sense of unity.
*Note the next lesson for parents/guardians letters to be sent home to join in the next lesson. The teacher may provide a virtual option, such as Zoom, for family members to join and engage in discussion activities.
Images and Citations:
Lynne, M. (2019). Let's Eat!: Mealtime Around the World . Beaming Books.