KSD Social Studies – Information Literacy Unit (Kindergarten)
Foods We Eat: Then and Now
Date: August 2004
Unit Overview
Title
Foods We Eat: Then and Now
Unit Summary
Students compare and contrast the kinds of foods we eat today with
foods eaten in the past. Students look at foods that are unique to
different cultures and special occasions.
Standards
Essential Academic Learning Requirements:
Social Studies Frameworks:
History
H1.1.1b Identify and analyze relationships between historical events.
H2.1.1 Explain how an idea has affected the way people live.
H2.2.1 Describe instances in which new technology has led to changes in values, beliefs, and
attitudes.
Geography
G3.1.1a Identify choices individuals have and how they interact with the environment
G3.2.1a Describe how differing environments both provide varying opportunities and set limits
for human activity
G3.2.1b Describe how people adapt to their environment to meet basic human needs and
concerns
Social Studies Inquiry and Information Skills:
Social Studies Skills
2.1.1a Communicate own feelings and beliefs; listen to viewpoints on social studies issues
2.1.1c Identify appropriate people to gain needed information, ask relevant questions, record
answers
3.1.2d Investigate cause and effect relationships and their impact on people,
environments, and economic systems
Other:
KSD Curriculum Frameworks (or SLOs):
Writing Focus:
Narrative: Personal Journals
Expository: Lists, Labels
Social Studies Frameworks:
Other
Information Literacy and Technology Literacy Focus (Super 3)
Plan: Tasks and resources are pre-defined for students.
Do: Students use pre-defined resources (e.g. PowerPoint presentations, books, websites)
to find information about foods and record as data in various forms (e.g. KidPix, journals,
charts, graphs, other provided templates).
Review: Students use information gathered to make comparisons about food.
KSD Technology:
KSD Social Studies – Information Literacy Unit (Kindergarten)
Foods We Eat: Then and Now
Student Tech Standards:
 Use the mouse
 Utilize basic paint, text and graphic tools
 Understand basic use of the keyboard
 Print completed work
Learning Outcomes
History:
 Compare and contrast the kinds of foods we eat today with foods eaten in the past, in
particular, with Thanksgiving foods.
 Compare and contrast how foods are preserved and prepared today with the past.
 Describe how technology has changed how people prepare and get food today.
Geography:
 Explain that people in every culture may eat different foods because of location, culture,
and personal taste.
 Identify foods/meals that are eaten for special occasions and recognize the diversity of
foods/meals among families.
Communication:
 Communicate own feelings about food preferences as well as listen to preferences of
others.
 Interview family members about food preferences and traditions to gain information,
asking relevant questions, and record answers on Take-home Class Survey.
Language Arts:
 Interprets and uses pictures and photographs
 Writes labels for drawings
 Recounts information and records data (in personal journals, charts, KidPix, etc.)
Essential Question(s):
 What foods do we eat today that were not available to people of long ago?
 What kinds of decisions do families make about food?
Evidence





of Learning
Anecdotal notes of class discussions
Recounts of information and data in journals, charts, Kid Pix, etc.
Sorting Activity: Foods Then and Now
Sorting Activity: Cooking Then and Now
Super 3 Student Recording Sheet
Content:
Information Literacy:
KSD Social Studies – Information Literacy Unit (Kindergarten)
Foods We Eat: Then and Now
Unit Implementation – Plan Learning Experiences and Instruction
Instructor
Instructional Activities
Time
Grouping
Classroom
Teacher
Build background: brainstorm
a class list of favorite
Thanksgiving foods, and how
they are cooked. Assess prior
knowledge of what students
think Pilgrims ate for the first
Thanksgiving, and how food
was prepared and preserved
using the 2 sorting activities.
30
min
Whole group
Classroom
Teacher
Use PPT to lead students in
further discussion about
foods eaten then and now at
Thanksgiving. Compare foods
with possible reasons for
similarities and differences.
20
min
Whole group
Students choose two foods
eaten then and two foods
eaten now to illustrate and
label using KidPix. (Option:
print out Word template or
record in personal journals.)
Template Opening Directions:
 Right-click > Package
Object > Edit Package
 File > Save As..
 Type Filename with .kpx
ending and Save
 Open Kid Pix
 File > Open
 Navigate to Template
30
min
Use PPT to lead students in
discussion about
comparisons in getting,
cooking, and storing food
then and now. Focus on
impact of technology on food
preparation and preservation.
20
min
Classroom
Teacher
and/or Media
Specialist
Classroom
Teacher
Scaffolds
To Edit:
Right-click >
Presentation
Object > Edit
Independent
See Directions
at left to open.
Whole group
Assessments
KSD Social Studies – Information Literacy Unit (Kindergarten)
Foods We Eat: Then and Now
Classroom
Teacher
Students sort familiar pictures
about foods then and now
using two sorting activities.
As students sort the pictures,
have them identify food
names. See answer keys for
additional follow-up
questions. Go over answer
key together as a class or
have students check
independently, either on the
computer or having it printed
out beforehand. (Optional:
print out and do as a cut and
paste activity.)
20
min
Independent
or in pairs
Classroom
Teacher and/or
Librarian
Introduce common foods in
various cultures by reading
Bread, Bread, Bread or
Everybody Cooks Rice or
another book from the
Resource List and discuss
that some foods are enjoyed
worldwide. Students recount
information in journals or on
chart paper, e.g. illustrate
and/or make lists of ways rice
or bread is cooked and eaten.
30
min
Whole group,
small group,
independent
Classroom
Teacher and/or
Librarian
Watch “Bread is for Eating”
(Reading Rainbow Video
#122) to explore how bread is
made through songs sung in
English and Spanish.
30
min
Whole group
Librarian and/or
Classroom
Teacher
Library Research: Plan-DoReview (Super 3). Introduce
Super 3 to students with
focus on “Do.” After sharing a
book from the Resource List
to learn about special foods
for holidays and celebrations,
students research more about
these special foods and
record findings on Student
Recording Sheet. (Option:
record in personal journals.)
30
min
Whole group,
small group,
independent
Classroom
Teacher
Read more about special
foods and discuss that some
foods are unique to certain
cultures or holidays. Record
results as a class list, noting if
food reflects special holidays,
celebrations, and/or cultures.
15
min
Whole group
KSD Social Studies – Information Literacy Unit (Kindergarten)
Foods We Eat: Then and Now
Classroom
Teacher and/or
Media Specialist
Students choose a favorite
food and related holiday or
celebration to illustrate and
label using KidPix. (Optional:
print out Word Template or
record in personal journals)
30
min
Independent
Classroom
Teacher
Students conduct interviews
with family members to
survey favorite foods of their
family, recording results on
Take Home Survey. (Attach
4x6 index cards for recipes.)
5-10
min
Independent
(Homework
activity)
Classroom
Teacher
Discuss results of surveys
and compile on Class Graph.
(Include an “Other” column to
accommodate unique foods.)
15
min
Whole group
and/or
independent
Classroom
Teacher
On a world map, identify
countries of origin of recipes
sent from home. Attach
recipe cards to places on
map connected by string.
(Option: compile all recipe
cards into a class cookbook.)
20
min
Whole group
Accommodation Options
ELL / IP Students
Label pictures with beginning and/or ending sounds only (i.e. 1-2 letters) or
dictate to a grown-up; pair with a buddy.
Highly-Capable Students
Extend picture labels to longer phrases and/or complete sentences.
Prerequisite Information/Skills
 Personal experience and/or knowledge of Thanksgiving
 Use of mouse – click and drag, scroll bar
 Introduction to KidPix - draw, paint, and text box features
Materials and Resources Required for Unit
Adopted Print Materials: Discovery Program K: All About Me (Unit I, Lesson 1; Unit III, Lesson 1)
Adopted and other Audio/Visual: N/A
Supplemental Resources (including Internet resources):
Supplies:
 Butcher paper for whole-class brainstorming, charts
 Personal journals
 Copies of Take-home Class Survey
 4x6 Index cards to send home with Class Survey (for recipes)
 Colored string and tacks (for map)
 World Map
Technology – Hardware (Click boxes of all equipment needed.)
Computer(s)
VCR
Projection System
Printer
Video Camera
Camera
Digital Camera
Scanner
Video Conferencing
Television
Laserdisc
Other
KSD Social Studies – Information Literacy Unit (Kindergarten)
Foods We Eat: Then and Now
Technology – Software (Click boxes of all software needed.)
Word
FrontPage
KidPix
Excel
Internet Explorer
Inspiration
PowerPoint
SchoolKiT
Clicker 4
Publisher
Encarta
Image Blender/Photo Editor
eLibrary Elementary
eLibrary
Proquest
United Streaming Video
Teacher Notes: The Take Home Survey and the subsequent, related classroom activities could be modified
to fit the needs of your class, especially if you anticipate a low number of responses. For example, you might
consider other sources for gathering this data, such as surveying older students in a buddy class or sending out
the surveys to staff members at your school.
Authors
Name
Email
School
Role
Ashley Pak
Ashley.Pak@kent.k12.wa.us
Meridian Elementary
Kindergarten Teacher
Karen Williams
Karen.Williams@kent.k12.wa.us
East Hill & Meridian El.
Librarian