The holidays will look different for our family this year and probably for many others who have experienced the loss of a loved one recently. I'm still not sure what this season will look like, but food will certainly be involved.
Food has an incredible ability to bring people together. This holiday season, countless families across the globe will gather around tables to share meals, honor traditions, and create lifelong memories. The act of sharing food with others offers far more than simple nourishment—it builds bonds, promotes open communication, and fosters a deep sense of community. Regardless of beliefs, backgrounds, or traditions, the shared experience of breaking bread transcends differences, reminding us of the universal connections we all hold.
Celebrating Community Through Story time
For young readers, books can beautifully capture the joy of coming together over food, as well as the kindness and generosity it can represent. If you’re looking to explore this theme further, consider these picture books that spotlight the importance of community and family gatherings:
1. Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora – This story follows a grandmother, Omu, who prepares a delicious stew that she selflessly shares with her neighbors. It’s a wonderful introduction to themes of sharing and community, with beautiful, collage-style illustrations.
2. Feast for 10 by Cathryn Falwell – A charming story that follows a family as they shop, cook, and prepare a meal for ten people, emphasizing the togetherness that food preparation can bring. This book also introduces basic counting and teamwork concepts for younger readers.
3. Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed – A story that centers around Bilal, a young boy who shares his favorite meal, daal, with friends for the first time. This book introduces cultural diversity and the joy of sharing one’s heritage, as Bilal’s friends discover the deliciousness of trying something new.
These stories are perfect for sparking discussions about family, friendship, generosity, and the many ways food can bring people closer together.
A Classroom Activity: Crafting a Meal for Community
To extend the theme of food and togetherness into a classroom activity, here’s an interactive project that can help students develop math, language, and problem-solving skills. This "meal-planning" exercise encourages students to work together to plan a menu, using critical thinking to decide how many guests they will invite, select ingredients, and stay within a set budget.
1. **Work within a Budget:** Students are given a fixed budget for their shopping. This task introduces a much needed life skill while practicing basic math and financial literacy. They’ll need to consider prices as they "shop" for ingredients.
2. **Choose the menu:** In small groups, students discuss what to include in their meal, thinking about nutrition, preferences, and cost.
3. **Plan for Guests:** How many people are invited? Learn about scaling up and making adjustments as you go.
At the end of the project, students can share their "meal plans" and discuss how they collaborated to make decisions, reinforcing teamwork and communication skills.This hands-on activity will not only engage students academically but also cultivate empathy and teamwork as they design a meal to be enjoyed by others.
Food, after all, is one of our most powerful tools for connection. Students will discover how nourishing one another goes beyond the physical—it helps create a space where everyone feels welcome at the table. By blending literature, collaboration, and problem-solving, this resource brings the themes of community and food to life, creating lasting lessons in kindness, inclusion, and joy.
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