Students create a map to explore the languages and major religions of Southeast Asia. Then they focus on the diversity it represents. Next, they learn about some of the most well-known foods in Southeast Asia. Finally, students choose a food from one country and research its historical, religious, and cultural significance.
Students read an introduction that connects food to culture using lyrics from the musical Oliver Twist and an overview of how the lesson will explore Southeast Asia through religion, language, and food. They examine a photo of food and post to a class wall explaining how what they see is similar to or different from food in their own culture and society.
Teacher MovesPresent the lesson objectives and frame food as a window into culture and society. Facilitate discussion of student wall responses, emphasizing respect for different food cultures and noting that everyone’s own food traditions might seem unusual to others. Monitor for insensitive comments and redirect as needed. When students are ready, unlock the next scene.
Students view images of religious sites in Southeast Asia and use three maps—Major Religions by Country, Official Languages, and Language Diversity—to investigate the region’s cultural characteristics. They take a screenshot of one map, upload it to a drawing space, and add a title. Students then answer a poll about the overall language diversity of Southeast Asia and a poll identifying the majority religion in Indonesia. After revisiting the maps, they post to a class wall describing what these maps suggest about the cultures of Southeast Asia.
Teacher MovesSupport students in accessing and interpreting the maps, and provide technical guidance on taking and uploading screenshots as needed. Use the poll results to check understanding of language diversity and major religions. Lead a discussion that helps students conclude that Southeast Asia is highly diverse in both languages and religions, and prompt them to compare this diversity to their own community. When discussion is complete, unlock the next scene.
Students read Southeast Asia’s Best (and Worst) Street Food to see how regional foods reflect the cultural diversity of Southeast Asia and their global popularity. They post on a class wall describing one dish they have tried or would like to try and explain why it appeals to them, then review classmates’ posts and respond to at least two with a question or positive comment.
Teacher MovesFacilitate conversation about the foods students read and wrote about, encouraging open-mindedness toward unfamiliar dishes. Invite students to share traditional foods from their own families and connect these foods to cultural backgrounds. If time permits, guide students in researching local Southeast Asian restaurants and mapping their locations to extend the cultural connections. Unlock the next scene when students are ready.
Students select one of eleven Southeast Asian countries and choose a food from that culture. They research the food’s history and the religious and cultural background of the people who eat it, then write a blog-style entry describing the food and explaining its historical, religious, and cultural significance.
Teacher MovesSupport students in selecting a country and food, locating appropriate research sources, and organizing their findings into a clear blog entry. Highlight and share one or more strong or interesting blog entries with the class to model effective research and explanation, and use these examples to prompt further discussion about how food reveals aspects of culture.
Students complete the exit quiz by answering all the questions.
Teacher MovesFacilitate the assessment and use student data to evaluate understanding, address misconceptions, and identify areas for growth.
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