As students prepare to make a representative dish of South Africa, they also learn about the country's culture, history, geography, economy, and more through an interactive PowerPoint. They are invited to do art activities, listen to music, learn the greetings of the local language, and do other interactive activities.

Through cooking, students practice measuring skills important to math development and key literacy skills regarding following directions. More importantly, however, cooking is an important life skill and sharing a meal as a family, in particular a special one that was prepared together, brings families closer together. Beyond academic learning, the sharing amongst family and friends in the culture kitchen is invaluable.

Course Objectives:

Students will:

• develop an appreciation for foods outside of their norm
• engage in risk-taking, trying unfamiliar foods with unfamiliar flavor profiles
• share in a culinary learning experience with their families
• practice key 21st century skills, such as information and technology literacy and communication
• research independently, practicing reading non-fiction for understanding
• learn key information about South Africa
• practice following directions (as in reading and following a written recipe)
• measure with different units, including tablespoons, cups, and milliliters
• convert measurements to different units using ratios
• share in appreciating music, broadening their understanding of culture
• understand that history shapes the present and the culture of a nation
• apply currency exchange rates to compare and contrast expenses from country to country
• recognize the flag
• understand that flags are symbolic of a country's value system

This course is appropriate for grades 3 and up