Middle school students study ethnic foods that are consumed in different cultures and in different countries around the world. They might research what types of foods grow in certain climates or regions and how religious and cultural norms affect food consumption in a particular area. Teachers might allow each student to research food production and consumption in a specific country and share the findings with classmates. Students can also take turns preparing a recipe from their particular country and share the dish with classmates.
Students might study historical factors that influenced food preparation and consumption in the United States and in other countries. For example, early American settlers were mostly farmers, so their diets often consisted of fruits, vegetables and grains. Hunters would shoot or capture game to supplement the produce-heavy diet with protein, when possible. The Chinese first farmed rice around 5,000 B.C., but grew tea, wheat and soybeans during the following centuries, and by 1,000 B.C. had developed tofu as a source of protein, according to HistoryforKids.org. Historical topics about food growth, production and preparation give students insight into cultural norms at the time.
Middle school students might study the importance of the buffalo to Native Americans. Not only was fresh buffalo meat a main source of food, but the meat could be dried and preserved to last through long winters and seasons of drought. Teachers and students might discuss how the white settlers often took the buffalo for granted, but the Native Americans used all parts of the buffalo to sustain life. Students might do oral presentations or electronic presentations discussing the various uses of the buffalo and how it was a lifeline for American Indians.
Students can study how current eating habits and food trends affect them personally. They might discuss how pop culture influences consumption. Most middle school students are aware of obesity issues, health concerns and Hollywood's portrayal of lean celebrities, so they might research junk food, fast food, prepackaged food and frozen food industries to better understand society's love affair with food. Teens could conduct food surveys, record their caloric intake for a week or make charts of foods they consumed. A social studies topic could also cover why marketing and advertising are so critical to the food industry as a whole.