Activity
50Minutes
DEVELOP
ForTeachers
Grades9-12 |Ages14-18
CultureandFoodandRitual,OhMy!
Howdoescultureaffectfoodrituals?
Forthecompleteactivitywithmediaresources,visit:
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/activity/culture-and-food-and-ritual-oh-my/
ACTIVITYOVERVIEW
Studentsplanamenuforareligiousceremonyinaccordancewithfoodrituals.
DIRECTIONS
1.ActivatepreviousstudentknowledgeaboutChristianity,Islam,andJudaism.
AskstudentstosharewhattheyknowabouteachofthethreemajorreligionsthatcallJerusalemhome.Pre-teach
thefollowingvocabulary:Passover,seder,kosher,leaven,matzo,Easter,MaundyThursday,Ramadan,sudhoor,
iftar,halal,Eidal-Fitr.Reviewtheterm“culture”withstudents,andaskhowthevocabularytheyjustlearnedfits
intothecultureofeachreligiousgroup.
2.Studentsanalyzephotosoffoodritualsinsmallgroups.
Breakstudentsintosixgroups.DisplayonephotoatatimefromtheFoodRitualsPhotoGallery,andhave
studentsdiscussandanalyzethephotowiththeirgroup.Havegroupsdiscusswhattheythinkisgoingonineach
picture.Askstudentstothinkaboutwhoisseated,whatitemsareonthetable,andatwhatpointinthemealthey
believethepeopleare.Haveeachgroupsharetheirobservationswiththeclassbeforedisplayingthenextphoto.
3.Define“foodritual”anddiscussstudents’personalfoodrituals.
Haveaclassdiscussionaboutthesimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweentheobservationsmadebygroupswiththe
samepictures.Ask:Diddifferentgroupsmakedifferentobservationsaboutthesamephoto?Ifso,why?
Encourageavarietyofresponses.Explainthateachphotodepictsafamily’sreligiouscelebration.Many
celebrations,bothreligiousandnon-religious,involvefoodrituals.Ask:Whatfoodritualsdoyouobserveanddo
theyhaveanyspecialmeaning?Ifstudentsstruggletoprovideresponses,suggestthinkingabouttimesintheir
livesthatmarkanevent,suchasbirthdays,differenttimesofday(breakfast,lunch,dinner),holidays,etc.
4.Groupsresearchreligiousfoodrituals.
Directstudents’attentionbacktotheFoodRitualphotos,andrevealthereligiouscelebrationfeaturedineach.
Explainthateachgroupwillplanamenuwithatleastfiveitemsforareligiousceremonycelebratedbyoneofthe
religionsfeaturedinthephotos.Assigneachgroupareligion.ThetwoChristianitygroupswillplanamealfor
Easter,thetwoJudaismgroupsforPassover,andthetwoIslamgroupsforEidal-Fitrtomarktheendof
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Ramadan.Promptstudentstoidentifythecomponentsofthemeal,includingbeverages,maindishes,and
desserts.
Havestudentsresearchtheirassignedcelebrationandassociatedreligionusingtheprovidedwebresources.Ask
studentstospecificallyfindandrecordthefollowing:
Thesignificanceofthecelebrationtothatreligion
Foodscommonlyassociatedwiththecelebrationandwhy
Anygeneralfoodcustomsorbeliefsofthatreligion
Studentsmaydecidetoassignindividualswithintheirgroupsspecificresearchtasks,ortotackletheinformation
huntalltogether.Havestudentsrecordtheirresearch.
5.Groupsplanamenufortheirassignedreligiousceremonybasedontheirresearch.
Basedontheirresearch,haveeachgroupplanamenufortheirdesignatedreligiousceremony.Inplanningtheir
menus,studentsshouldconsidertheoverallandspecificfoodritualsoftheirassignedgroups.Forexample,the
Judaismgroupshouldplanakoshermealwithspecificfoods,suchasmatzo.
Aftergroupshavecreatedtheirmenus,combinethetwogroupsassignedtoeachreligionintoonelargegroup
(i.e.,thetwogroupsthatresearchedandcreatedanEastermenushouldbecomeonelargeChristianitygroup).
Haveeachnew,largegroupcometoconsensusonamenufortheircelebration.Thetwooriginalgroupsshould
sharetheirmenuswitheachother,andworktogethertomakesureallritualsareaccountedfor.
6.Studentssharetheirmenus,anddiscusssimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenfoodrituals.
Makealargechart(3rows,2columns)ontheboard,labelingeachrowinthefirstcolumnas“Christianity,”“Islam,”
or“Judaism.”
Haveeachlargegroupsharetheirnewmenuwiththeclassandtalkaboutthereligiousbeliefsassociatedwiththat
celebration.Forexample,studentsintheIslamgroupshouldtalkaboutbasicbeliefsofMuslims,thefestival
Ramadananditsimportance,andhowitrelatestotheirfoodeatenatEidal-Fitr.Askastudentvolunteertorecord
theinformationeachgroupreportsinthesecondcolumnofthechart,inthecorrespondingreligion’srow.Continue
untilallgroupshavesharedandthechartiscomplete.
7.Compareandcontrastfoodrituals.
Distributethe3-CircleVennDiagramhandout.Explainthatstudentswillbecomparingtheirpersonalfoodritualsto
thefoodritualsoftworeligionsoftheirchoosing.Havestudentslabelonecirclewiththewords“MyFoodRituals,”
andtheremainingtwocircleswiththetworeligionstheychoosetocomparetheirpersonalritualsto:either
“Christian,”“Muslim,”or“Jewish.”Askstudentstowriteallofthethingstheyfindsimilarinthespacewherethe
circlesintersect.Anythingthatdoesnotfitinthe“similar”sectionshouldbenotedintheappropriatecircle.Allow
thestudentstoworkwithoneanotherastheycompletetheirhandouts.
MODIFICATION
InStep2,determinehowmanygroupsstudentsaresplitintobasedonyourclasssize.Ideally,studentswill
workingroupsoffiveorsix.Thekeytothisstepisthattwogroupsanalyzethesamephotograph.
MODIFICATION
Purchasebreadusedbyeachreligiousgroupinthecelebrationsthestudentsresearch,sostudentsmayeat
whiletheysharetheirmenus.
INFORMALASSESSMENT
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Collectthe3-CircleVennDiagramsandcheckthemforcompletion.Thisexerciseisnotatest,butratherawayfor
studentstoorganizealloftheinformationtheyhavelearned.UsetheprovidedThree-CircleVennDiagramAnswer
Keytoevaluateifstudentscorrectlydiscernsimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenthetworeligionstheychoseto
include.
EXTENDINGTHELEARNING
Ifresourcesareavailable,findrecipesforeachtypeofbreadusedinthecelebrationsresearchedandhave
studentsbakeeachtype.Trythefollowingrecipes:
Christian:NPR:EasterEggBreads:Sacred,ProfaneandScrumptious
Jewish:Food.com:UnleavenedBreadforPassover
Islam:About.com:Food:MiddleEasternFood:Lavash
OBJECTIVES
SUBJECTS&DISCIPLINES
LEARNINGOBJECTIVES
Geography
HumanGeography
Studentswill:
Explainthefoodritualsbehindceremoniesofthree
majorworldreligions
Makeconnectionsbetweentheirownfoodritualsand
thoseofthreemajorworldreligions
Organizeinformationintocategories,anddiscern
similaritiesanddifferencesbetweenfoodritualsamong
threemajorreligiousgroups
Religion
Christianity
Islam
Judaism
SocialStudies
Humanbehavior
Worldhistory
TEACHINGAPPROACH
Thematicapproach
TEACHINGMETHODS
Discussions
Hands-onlearning
Visualinstruction
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SKILLSSUMMARY
CONNECTIONSTONATIONALSTANDARDS
Thisactivitytargetsthefollowingskills:
NationalCouncilforSocialStudiesCurriculum
Standards
21stCenturySkills
Information,Media,andTechnologySkills
Information,Communications,andTechnology
Literacy
LearningandInnovationSkills
CommunicationandCollaboration
•Theme1: Culture
•Theme3: People,Places,andEnvironments
•Theme4: IndividualDevelopmentandIdentity
•Theme5: Individuals,Groups,andInstitutions
•Theme9: GlobalConnections
NationalGeographyStandards
LifeandCareerSkills
SocialandCross-CulturalSkills
•Standard10: Thecharacteristics,distribution,and
complexityofEarth'sculturalmosaics
•Standard6: Howcultureandexperienceinfluence
21stCenturyThemes
GlobalAwareness
people'sperceptionsofplacesandregions
CriticalThinkingSkills
Analyzing
Understanding
CommonCoreStateStandardsforEnglishLanguage
Arts&Literacy
•ReadingStandardsforLiteracyinHistory/Social
Studies6-12:
GeographicSkills
AnsweringGeographicQuestions
OrganizingGeographicInformation
IntegrationofKnowledgeandIdeas,RH.11-12.7
NationalEducationalTechnologyStandardsfor
Students(NETS*S)
•Standard2: CommunicationandCollaboration
•Standard3: ResearchandInformationFluency
•Standard4: CriticalThinking,ProblemSolving,and
DecisionMaking
PREPARATION
WHATYOU’LLNEED
MaterialsYouProvide
Pencils
Pens
RequiredTechnology
InternetAccess:Required
TechSetup:Projector
PhysicalSpace
Classroom
ResourcesProvided:Websites
BBC:Religions:Christianity
BBC:Religions:Judaism
BBC:Religions:Islam
WholeFoods:OfficialWholeFoods
MarketBlog:TheTraditionsof
Ramadan
ResourcesProvided:Handouts&
Worksheets
Three-CircleVennDiagram
Three-CircleVennDiagramAnswer
Key
Grouping
Large-groupinstruction
Small-groupinstruction
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ResourcesProvided:undefined
American-IsraeliCooperative
Enterprise:JewishVirtualLibrary:
Passover
ResourcesProvided:Images
FoodRitualsPhotoGallery
ResourcesProvided:Articles&
Profiles
EncyclopediaBritannica:
Christianity
CatholicActivity:EasterSymbols
andFood
EncyclopediaBritannica:Judaism
EncyclopediaBritannica:Islam
BACKGROUND&VOCABULARY
BACKGROUNDINFORMATION
IntheChristianreligion,Easterisoneofthemostholyholidays,celebratingtheresurrectionofJesusChrist.Many
Christiandenominations(Catholics,Orthodox,someAnglicans)donoteatmeatonFridaysduringLent.Families
fromaroundtheworldhavefoodritualsinvolvingEaster.InAmerica,manyfamilieshaveanEasterhamorturkey
andhard-boiledcoloredeggs.ThisisalsoamajortraditionineasternChristianity,whereeggsarecoloreddark
redanddecorated.InnationsofcentralandEasternEurope,somefoodsarepreparedonthelastdaysofHoly
WeekandareblessedbyapriestonHolySaturdayorEasterSunday.CommonChristianEasterfoodsarelamb,
breads,hotcrossbuns,meats,andsausages.
KosherdesignateswhichfoodsmaybeconsumedandhowtheymustbepreparedaccordingtoJewishdietarylaw
(kashrut).Themainrulesare:
Nopork,rabbit,eagle,owl,catfish,sturgeon,shellfish,mostinsects(locustsmaybekosher!),reptiles.Othermeatand
fowlmustbeslaughteredbyauthorizedpersonnelwhofollowcertainprocedures(slittingthethroatoftheanimaland
drainingtheblood).Meatmaynotbeconsumed,forexample,iftheanimalwasstrangled,killedinhunting,orfound
dead.
Meatanddairyproductsmaynotbeconsumedatthesamemeal.
Ifakosherfoodiscombinedwithanon-kosherfood,itbecomesnon-kosher.
IntheJewishtradition,Passoverisoneofthemostholyholidays,commemoratingtheJews’exodusfromEgypt
andbondage.Itconsistsofaseven-dayritual.ThefirstnightofPassoverismarkedbyahomeceremonycalled
theseder,andisatimethatparentsteachtheirchildrenabouttheirdeliverancefromEgypt.Thesedermeal
usuallyconsistsofcakesofmatzo,aroastedegg,andshankbone;adishofsaltwater;lettuceorhorseradish;and
haroset(apastemadefromalmonds,apples,andwine).Alloftheseitemssymbolizedifferentbeliefs
commemoratedbytheJews.CommonPassoverfoodsalsoincludelamb,unleavenedbread,honey,nuts,fruit,
bitterherbs,andwine.
Halal(whichmeans“permissible”inArabic)designateswhichfoodsmaybeconsumedaccordingtoIslamiclaw,
andinthecaseofmeats,howanimalsmustbeslaughtered.Themainrulesare:
Noporkorporkby-products,bloodorbloodby-products,alcohol,carnivorousanimals,birdsofprey,landanimalswithout
externalears.
Othermeatandfowlmustbeslaughteredfollowingcertainprocedures(slittingthethroatoftheanimalanddrainingthe
blood).Meatmaynotbeconsumed,forexample,iftheanimalwasstrangled,killedinhunting,orfounddead.
RamadanisoneofthemostholyholidayscelebratedbyMuslims,andiscelebratedthroughouttheninthmonthof
theMuslimcalendaryear.RamadanisconsideredholybecauseitisthemonththattheQu'ran,theMuslimholy
book,wasfirstrevealedtotheProphetMuhammad,adnthatthegatesofHeavenareopenandthegatesofHell
areclosedduringthismonth.DuringRamadan,healthyadultsmustabstainfromfoodanddrinkduringdaylight
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hours.Mealsareeatenbeforesunriseandaftersunset.Justaftersunsetthefastisbrokenatiftar(traditionallyby
eatingthreedates,followedbyabountifulmeal).Freshfruits,vegetables,andhalalmeatsareeaten.Eidal-Fitr
markstheendofRamadan.Commonfoodsincludelamb,vegetabledishes,ricedishes,kebabs,dates,fruit,and
nuts.Ramadanisaveryspiritualevent,duringwhichoneevaluatesandpurifiesallaspectsofhisorherlife.
PRIORKNOWLEDGE
RECOMMENDEDPRIORACTIVITIES
Students’ownexperienceswithfoodmarkingeventsin
theirlivesandculture
Anunderstandingoftheword“culture”
None
VOCABULARY
Term
PartofSpeech
Definition
Easter
noun
mostimportantcelebrationintheChristianreligion,markingthedaywhenthedeity
Jesusrosefromthedead.
Eidal-Fitr
noun
festivalthatendstheMuslimfastingmonthofRamadan.
halal
adjective
foodthathasbeenpreparedaccordingtoMuslimdhabihahlaw.
hametz
noun
foodforbiddenforusebyJewsduringthefestivalofPassover,especiallyabaked
food.Alsocalledchametzorchometz.
iftar
noun
mealeatenbyMuslimstobreaktheirfasteveryeveningduringRamadan.
kosher
adjective
foodthathasbeenpreparedaccordingtoJewishkosher,orkashrut,law.
matzo
noun
unleavened,cracker-likebread,eatenespeciallybyJewsduringPassover.
Maundy
Thursday
noun
ThursdaybeforeEaster.
Passover
noun
weeklongJewishfestivalmarkingtheexodusofancientJewsfromslaveryinEgypt.
AlsocalledPesach.
Ramadan
noun
ninthmonthintheMuslimcalendar,whenMuslimsfastduringdaylighthours.
ritual
noun
seriesofcustomsorproceduresforaceremony,oftenreligious.
seder
noun
Jewishreligiousservice,includingaceremonialdinner,heldonthefirstorfirstand
secondeveningsofPassover.
suhoor
noun
lightmealeatenbyMuslimspriortodaybreakeverydayduringRamadan
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