Lesson # 17: Egypt

During lesson # 17 of Food is Elementary, our students returned to Africa for a visit to Egypt! In this lesson students learned that the Egyptian pyramids have a realtionship to the USDA food pyramid, that the first breads were made in ancient Egypt from wheat and barley, and about some of the foods that were used thousands and thousands of years ago in Egypt that are still used today.

The lesson began with a review of a map of Africa. With the help of a Food Educator, the students located Egypt on the map. Because the Food is Elementary curriculum has stressed the importance of using the food pyramid to categorize foods and determine which foods are healthy and which are less so, the Food Educators drew a parallel between the strength of the Egyptian pyramids and the strength that our own bodies can have when we eat the healthiest foods from the food pyramid (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes).

Next, students discovered that the first breads came from Egypt and were made from whole wheat and barley. They also reviewed some of the key ingredients they would be using while preparing the lesson's recipe( Ancient Egyptian Barley and Peas). The ingredients included barley, peas, leeks, and artichoke hearts. After determining where each of the ingredients belonged on the food pyramid, the class broke into groups to begin measuring and adding vegetables to a batch of pre-made barley.

Finally, everyone was able to sample the Egyptian grain dish, socialize with friends, and dance to Egyptain music!