Lesson # 18: Japan

During week eighteen of Food is Elementary, students were able to learn about the island of Japan, the artistic presentation of food through a sushi making exercise, and about some of the ingredients common in Japanese cuisine.

The lesson on Japan began by explaining to the students that Japan is an island, and islands are pieces of land surrounded by water. This was followed by a brief discussion of the creatures that live in the ocean, like sharks, squids, and octopi. Food educators also mentioned the plant life that can be found in the ocean. The students learned that seaweed, a plant that can be found in the ocean, is part of the traditional Japanese diet.

Next, students were shown several cultural artifacts from Japan, such as chopsticks, origami, and a kokeshi doll. Most interesting were the Bento boxes, which are the Japanese equivalent of a lunch box or picnic box. These boxes have different, small compartments for arranging food, and are very pretty. The food Educators asked the students if they thought it was more enjoyable to eat foods that are pretty to look at ( they answered in the affirmative), and explained that this element of artful presentation is very important to the Japanese. Eating from a bento box is meant to give pleasure to the person eating his or her lunch!  

Before preparing their vegetable sushi, the Food Educators reviewed different ingredients common in japanese cooking, like rice, seaweed, adzuki beans, avocadoes, and diffferent vegetables. Students very easily placed them on the food pyramid, and then broke into groups to prepare their sushi! Each group prepared a sushi roll by using their clean hands to pat down a layer of brown rice. Next they sprinkled the rice with rice vinegar and layed down the vegetables (carrots, cucumbers, and avocadoes). Everyone had a chance to help roll up the sushi which was then sliced into rounds by a Fiid Educator or aduly volunteer. The students admired the beauty of their sushi rolls, and then began dipping them into low sodium dipping souce and  popping them into their mouths!

The lesson on Japan ended with an exchange of arigatos and  traditional Japanese bowing. Our students are so respectful!