I’m trying to figure out a more engaging way to get students interested in the Age of Exploration. I recently went apple picking and made my signature apple pie (family recipe of course) where I make it all from scratch. I was thinking about how the only reason I’m able to make this pie is due to the Age of Exploration and how the world was now trading various goods especially spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. One thought I had for a Do Now was for students to look at this recipe and identify the different areas where each ingredient came from and how it is tied to this time of the Age of Exploration. Still trying to figure out if I can bring in a few pies then as a treat (need to clear it with Admin first) but was hoping this could be a more fun way to kick off this unit. I’d appreciate any feedback with this.
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Sounds like an engaging (and delicious) idea, Marcella Sykucki ! I've had students choose their favorite foods and research the ingredients to determine whether they would be possible without the Columbian Exchange but I think having a tangible treat would make this even better!
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I love your idea! Marcella Sykucki
Starting with their favorite family recipes is such a great idea! I’ll be trying this family recipe part, too, with the World Zone Cafe activity.
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What about using corn? There are great discussions surrounding corn today in Mexico and you can tie in the Age of Exploration to current events - here are some current articles that might be of interest: Mexico is fighting to keep U.S. corn out of its tortillas (nationalgeographic.com) U.S. to Challenge Mexican Ban on Genetically Modified Corn - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
And corn is not as messy as pie!
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I like this idea Marcella Sykucki .Like many others here, I use the World Zone Cafe activity with my students. After reading your post I thought it would be meaningful for my students to analyze our school menu, choose a dish, analyze the origin of the main ingredients, and locate them on a world map.
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All of you have some great ideas here. I teach ninth graders, and we're on trimesters, so I don't get the luxury of a long-in-depth look at the Age of Exploration. However we do have some fun. Here is a Columbian Exchange Slides I made that gets kids involved. I move the desks to make "zones" in the room, a "new world" zone, an "old world" and a "both" zone. I stand on one of the tables and kids have to move to the zone they think is correct. If they get it right, I hand them some fake money if they are in that correct zone. Then we keep clicking the slides. Nothing close to the deep learning a pie can provide. Boy that pie sounds amazing.
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Thanks for sharing this Bryan Dibble , I can't wait to do this with my AP World class. I might not do the whole thing but a few slides might be a good way to look at this.
