Appendix: Extension Activities
While in the midst of writing this curriculum unit, I had an epiphany moment: a wonderful way to extend this introduction to nutrition, food choice, and exercise would be to integrate it with our social studies curriculum which, in the sixth grade emphasizes ancient history. With their background of factors influencing food choice and of a balanced diet, students would be able to examine the food of the ancient cultures (for example, Egypt, China, Mesopotamia, Rome, Greece, and India). We can discuss the question, "Did the ancient people of ____ eat a balanced diet?" And, "Why did they make the food choices they made?" We address the importance of rivers, (i.e. The Nile River, The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, The Yellow River) as they pertain to the development of civilizations. The Egyptians, Sumerians, Chinese, among many other groups, began their societies along the banks of a river and their diet was tied to their immediate surroundings. I am particularly fascinated by the fact that many of our relationships with food in the twenty-first century in the United States have evolved to a state of disconnectedness, whereas the people of the Ancient world ate from the earth, in many senses. I look forward to further developing this extension of my curriculum unit.
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