Submitted by: Cheryl Sumner
Collaborators: Terran Evans
School: The Academy at Virginia Randolph
Summary
The primary focus on this lesson is to introduce beginning ESL students to the English names of foods and to prepare foods by converting dry and liquid measurements into the American system. An ancillary, but important, outcome of this lesson is the study and understanding of different cultures and their foods.
This lesson was designed to immerse students in a learning experience that promotes collaboration, project-based learning and critical thinking. The students will develop the skills necessary to participate in small and large group learning activities. They will acquire the skills needed for reading recipes in English, to understand and to use the American system of measurements. The lesson will also provide enough English to give students the confidence to order foods in restaurants, to shop for groceries, and to read cookbooks written in English.
TIPC Ratings
Students used the Internet to research recipes from their country that were like recipes from classmates’ country. Because many of the students have just arrived in this country and students had to found ways to communicate with each other, they used Google Translate. Group leaders were responsible for finding the directions for using Excel and how to write simple mathematical formula so he/she could train the team members to convert the measurements of ingredients so they could prepare the recipe.
Students were divided into two groups according to country of origin. Student leaders naturally emerged with the these groups to help compile and complete the recipes. Students used pictures of food to share their findings and Google Translate to communicate their ideas. The groups discussed their findings and decided which recipe they would cook with the help of the Culinary Arts teacher.
Student leaders learned how to use Excel by viewing self-paced tutorials they found on the Internet. The leaders were responsible for instructing their team members to use simple mathematical formula so they could convert the ingredients to prepare the recipes. The students discovered Google Translator to communicate with each other. One of the groups contained language groups that were responsible for finding a recipe and calculating the measurement of ingredients.
Students worked in groups to post the recipes they felt represented the class and amount of ingredients needed to serve 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 individuals on a Weebly. This class is made up of students who have different comfort level with speaking English. Students were responsible for helping each other complete the Weebly.
