This year I was able to purchase some food items (mostly candy/desserts) for my students in my world history class. I procured pokey for each of my classes, relatively inexpensive as there is a group of sticks in each packet. My students loved this. Many of them asked where I got them (World Market, but you can get them at some grocery stores), and some asked why I didn't do it for other sections. I also provided my homeroom period with ice cream mochi (in various flavors, you can get these at Trader Joes). I cut those into fourths to distribute on the last day prior to Winter/Christmas Vacation. Many of my students really enjoyed them, while a few did not, but most had never tried them before. My students were very interested in trying new foods, even the ones who did not like the food I brought. Again, it was relatively inexpensive for me.
I believe food is a way of exciting students about other cultures, and I would love to bring in more. Sugarcane would be great and inexpensive to bring students during the exploration unit, but sadly for my class this is towards the ends of the year and is out of season. I am thinking of bringing cactus this year for my students during the last quarter when we're focusing on meso and south American cultures.
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) I was pleased to see the variety they had at the shops in Chinatown. I bought a spicy mango treat that is hot, but tasty!
