VISITING OUR SMALL WORLD
Exploring American diversity through the foods we eat.
About the Activity
Over the years, people from all around the world have come to the US, bringing with them their culture, religion, stories, celebrations and heritage. In this activity, kids will learn about cultural diversity by exploring the foods commonly served in your family’s home and researching where they originated.
Grades: 4-6
Available in Shop 4-H Curriculum: Food, Culture, and Reading
Supplies
- 4 sheets of construction paper
- paper hole punch
- 2 feed of yarn or string
- pictures of food from magazines, grocery store advertisements or printed from the internet
Activity Steps
- Make a list of six foods commonly served in your home. Using the internet, find out where these foods originated.
- Construct a book entitled “Around the World Food Favorites” using the following steps:
- Fold a stack of four sheets of construction paper in half.
- Punch six to eight holes along the folded edge of the stack using a hole-punch.
- Thread a 2-foot piece of yarn through the holes to sew the paper together into a book. Knot the yarn to old the pages in place.
- Cut the photos of foods from the list out of a magazine or grocery store advertisements.
- Use the internet to find and print pictures of these foods.
- Starting with the second page, glue the photos into the book – one photo per page. Label the foods and include their country of origin or where they are a traditional dish. Write a sentence describing the food’s taste, texture, shape, or other distinguishing feature.
- Decorate the cover of the book with photos or drawings of food. Include the title of the book and your name.
- Share the book with your family or friends.
Reflection Questions
Questions for your kids and teens.
SHARE
- What foods does your family enjoy at home?
- Which of those foods did you put on your book?
- What are some foods your family buys?
- From what countries do these foods originate?
PROCESS
- How does your family heritage affect the foods you eat?
- Why is it important to know your family food heritage?
- How are the foods you eat affected by people from other countries?
GENERALIZE
- Why is the US often referred to as a “melting pot” of cultures?
- What do you learn about other countries by eating food?
APPLY
- What are some other ways to learn about other countries?
- How can you expand your family’s list of foods from other countries?
- How does knowing where food heritages come from help learn about diversity?
Related Activities
If you enjoyed these recipes, you can find more cooking, food, and nutrition activities on 4-H at Home.
Shop 4-H Curriculum and Products
Shop 4-H offers university-backed curriculum, educational kits, products and supplies to expand your knowledge of cooking, food, and nutrition.
4-H Clover Cookie Cutter
Bring 4-H into your kitchen with this metal 4-H cookie cutter. This cutter makes for an excellent cooking competition or food demonstration prize.
$1.25
4-H Cooking 101
Grades: 6-12
Learn to avoid spreading germs while cooking, measure and mix ingredients, test baked goods for doneness, brown meat, and set the table for a family meal.
$10.50
4-H Clover Apron
All good cooks need an apron when they are whisking around the kitchen! Cook in style while showing your 4-H pride!
$15.95
4-H Oven Mitt
Turn up the heat in the kitchen while showing off your 4-H pride! The 4-H Oven Mitt makes a great gift for the chef in your home.
$7.95
Fresh Chefs Cooking Essentials Bundle
The Fresh Chefs Cooking Essentials Bundle helps young chefs learn their way around the kitchen. Set includes a spatula, measuring cups, and 2 Flex-it cutting boards.
$15.99
Fantastic Foods: Six Easy Bites
Grades: 3-12
This food activity guide helps kids learn about different food ingredients, characteristics, and safety issues.
$8.95
Take Our Survey