MYSTERY OF THE FOOD KIOSK
Natalia, Ruben and Rebeca took a trip to the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. They decided
to visit the only tropical rain forest that USA has.
Ruben said: “We need to drive around 40 minutes from San Juan to Luquillo, so we need to carry with us some food, water and a raincoat.”
Rebeca said: “We don’t need to carry food, there are colorful kiosks that sell wonderful meals and fruits from the island.”
Natalia is very happy, because she loves to see beautiful landscapes and natural things.”
They start their travel to the forest through the highway, but they decided to go first to the kiosks near the road in the town of Luquillo. There were beautiful and colorful kiosks that have different kinds of food and fruit.
Although Puerto Rican cooking is somewhat similar to Spanish, Cuban and Mexican cuisine, it is a unique taste a blend of Spanish, African, Taino (native residents) and American influences. The Puerto Rican food uses such indigenous seasonings and ingredients as coriander, papaya, cacao, apio and plantains. The locals call their cuisine “Cocina Criolla”. Today deep fried food is commonly sold by the side of the roads, must of the people see and eat treats including: Bacalaito - salt cod fritter, Mofongo - mashed fried green plantains (African influence), Pionono - sweet plantain stuffed with seasoned ground beef (deep fried), Mavi - a drink made from the Columbrina tree and sugar, Alcapurria - fried tube shaped snack made of a mixture of plantains, yautia, and stuffed with meat, Pasteles - a tamale-like loaf made with plantain and root vegetable paste, stuffed and wrapped in banana leaves, Tostones - twice fried smashed plantains and Chicharron -fried pig skin.
Natalia and Rebeca start to enjoy all the varieties of food that the kiosk have including vegetarian options.
Natalia said: “I want to eat mofongo and drink mavi! This is the best veggie meal to eat, it is all from plants!”
Rebeca said: “I will like to eat a lot of alcapurrias, drink a shake of papaya and a piña colada”
Rebeca, Natalia and Ruben forgot their diet and started to taste all kinds of food and fruits that are in the kiosk. Natalia said: “Wow, these foods and fruits are so delicious! All of these foods come from seeds and plants!”
Rebeca ask: “I wonder how the people in the Caribbean islands make the foods, fruits, and drinks!”
The owner of the Kiosk tells them that all the fruits and veggies are fresh everyday that is part of the reason the meals are so delicious. When finished eating, they decided to return to San Juan and go another day to visit the forest.
Ruben said: “Don’t worry we can come another day to visit the forest. At this moment all we need to do is to enjoy the foods and fruits of this island today”
“I still don’t believe that all these fruits and vegetables come from seeds! Natalia said.
ASSESSING INVESTIGATIVE CASE
MYSTERY OF THE FOOD KIOSK
- You and your partner list five ideas and statements Know and Need to Know that come to your mind after reading the case study.
- List how will you attempt to find answers to the things that you need to know?
- Write in the form of an investigative question of your Need to Know ideas to be answered through.
- Conduct an investigative study using one of your questions. Make sure you include: title, question, data, explanation and conclusions.
- Oral presentation with an investigative case report will be presented to the class.
- Grading Rubric: You will be evaluated base in your presentation using the following concepts:
Content / Points / Your points
Knowledge shows understanding of material, able to answer question / 10
Content include title, question, data, explanation & conclusion / 10
Participation even share of presenting work / 5
Length –long enough to cover material / 5
Design creativity, color easy to follow / 5
Attentiveness to others presentation / 5
Notes from research / 10
LEARNING GOALS
The students will be able to investigate the plantains and bananas that vary in size and determine differences and similarities.
The will be able to identify cultural uses of the plantains.
INVESTIGATIVE ACTIVITIES
National Standards:
The student will view a demonstration of plantain use through current cultural recipes.
The students will dissect the plantains and bananas and analyze the similarities and differences.
The students will display abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
The students will demonstrate understandings about scientific inquiry
The students will investigate matter, energy, and organization in living systems
The students will demonstrate and understanding of behavior of organisms.
RESOURCES
- History of Plantain
- Earliest Fruit Crop
- Uses of bananas and plantains
- Difference in banana and plantain
- Plantain Recipe
- All about Plantain Trivia
- Medicinal uses of plantains
- Camera, computer, internet, variety of plantain, bananas, knives, cooking utensils for demonstration, paper towels, small cups, markers, masking tape, easel paper, plates, construction paper, glue.
DATA
Foldable of Notes used by students
STUDENT PRODUCTS
Investigative case report
CAREER CONNECTIONS
Travel Agent, Ecologist , Agriculture Specialist, Chef, Hospitality Industry, Horticulturalist, Farmer
Mystery of the Food Kiosk
Introduction:
Video Clip of Kiosk
Data Collection setup: Investigative Case Journal 1 bananas and 2 plantain
Read Investigative Case Aloud
Know Need to Know Activity
Brainstorm how you will attempt to find answers to the things you need to know.
Write an investigative question from one of your Need to Know items.
Comparison of plantain & banana
Field Trip to Kiosk (taste test).
Dissection of plantain and bananas
Research to answer investigative question.
Document findings using the format provided.
Oral Presentation Findings
Video Clip
MYSTERY OF FOOD KIOSK
QUESTION:
DATA: (2 of 3)
Pictures
Graphs / Table
Chart
EXPLANATION:
CONCLUSION: