High schoolers are asked to consider the connections between food, culture, and identity. They read articles and share what they learned in a jigsaw activity, read a short story, and make a claim about the story's theme, backing up their claim with evidence from the articles and the story.

Concepts

culture, food, identity, amy tan, chinese food, evaluating claims, evidence, logical reasoning, argumentative writing

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Instructional Ideas

• Use the slide show to direct the lesson
• Ask participants to share a meal they feel represents them and their culture

Classroom Considerations

• Be considerate on the subject of food, as some class members may have limited access to food; if possible, take steps to ensure the child's health and safety
• A projection device is needed for the PowerPoint presentation and videos
• Individual copies of the short story and the handout are required
• Presumes writers have experience identifying the theme of a story

Pros

• Provides links to explanations for the various learning strategies used in the lesson

Cons

• None

Common Core

W.9-10.1.a W.11-12.1.b