How are we what we eat?

This is the guiding question our sixth graders were asked to consider on Tuesday, Jan. 7, as a new unit was kicked off in their MESH subjects (that is, Math, English, Science, and History). This first lesson centered around “how food shapes their identity,” said English teacher Sarah Macone.

Students gathered in the Wharton Lessin Dining Hall, where Chef Alex and his team prepared breakfast foods that represented the cultures of the Dominican Republic (“Tres Golpes,” a trio of fried eggs, cheese, and salami), Colombia (beef empanadas), and Japan (miso salmon with steamed rice). To reflect how food brings people together, students were intentionally seated at tables where they might not know one another. “This allows you to connect with someone new,” says Ms. Macone.

Students lined up to sample the variety of foods and were encouraged to try something outside of their comfort zone. “I got to try different things I’ve never tried before,” said Kayla S. ’31, who discovered she liked fried eggs. “I’ve always been scared to try new foods.”

Chef Alex concluded the breakfast with the Japanese words Gochisosama deshita, which he explained expresses gratitude to everyone, from the chefs to the workers who delivered the ingredients, for the meal.

“I got to try different things I’ve never tried before”

Students moved on to Hajjar Auditorium to share food traditions within their own families and to participate in a “Cross the Line” activity that illuminated the similarities and differences among students when it came to things like who enjoys cooking, who has eaten something they’ve caught, who has a sweet tooth, and more.

The unit will culminate on Tuesday, Jan. 28, with a cultural food festival, consisting of student presentations and a tasting celebration for which parents are invited to attend and bring in food that represents their family history, ethnicity, or special family traditions.