ERIC Number: EJ959697
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 2
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1082-1651
EISSN: N/A
The Senegal Project: A Cultural Foods Unit for Middle School Students
Nelson, Diane
Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, v103 n3 p35-36 2011
The Senegal Project is the culminating project in a unit on cultural foods in an 8th grade family and consumer sciences (FCS) course. Initially, students take a quick world tour by studying and cooking foods from Mexico, Italy, China, and India followed by a "more depth and less breadth" study of Senegal, a country with a culture vastly different than their own. The project reinforces research skills, including the use of technology, identifying resources, and note-taking in an effort to discourage students from merely copying and pasting information for a report. To practice critical thinking skills, students use graphs and information to reflect on data that address differences and similarities between Senegal and the United States. The Senegal Project fosters best pedagogical practices by combining technology and a hands-on approach. The project can be readily adapted to other countries, drawing upon the experiences and expertise of one's own travel, the cultural background of colleagues, international visitors, or students. (Contains 2 online resources.)
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Food, Cultural Background, Family Life Education, Consumer Science, Grade 8, Middle School Students, Research Skills, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills, Cross Cultural Studies, Technology Uses in Education, Research Methodology
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. 400 North Columbus Street Suite 202, Alexandria, VA 22314. Tel: 800-424-8080; Tel: 703-706-4600; Fax: 703-706-4663; e-mail: bookstore@aafcs.org; Web site: http://www.aafcs.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Grade 8; Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: China; India; Italy; Mexico; Senegal; United States
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A