Grade Level: 3rd

Duration: 1 class

Goal:
To recognize the importance of plantains and bananas in Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Dominican food

Objectives:
To identify different types of plantains/bananas from Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic and how they are grown.

Activities:
1. To begin, put a KWL chart on the overhead projector and asks students what they KNOW about bananas. The following questions can be used as prompts:

How do you say "bananas" in Spanish (just a suggestion)
How are plantains/bananas grown?
Where are they grown?
Are plantains/bananas a fruit or a vegetable?
Are there different types of plantains/bananas?)

2. The teacher should fill in the K portion of the chart.

3. Ask students WHAT they WANT to learn about plantains/bananas? The teacher fills in the W portion of the chart.

4. Explain that in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, people cultivate and eat different types of plantains/bananas. Show students the different types of bananas that exist and give them an opportunity to taste those that are ripe.

5. Explain how plantains/bananas are grown. See banana history for information and websites for pictures.

6. Show students that the plantain/banana is used to make "tostones." Students should have the opportunity to touch it.

7. Show the students the three plantain recipes that they will use the following day.

Assessment:
At the end of class, return to the KWL chart on the overhead and asks students what they have learned about plantains/bananas. S/he fills in the L portion of the chart.

Materials:
List of different types of bananas
KWL chart copied onto a transparency (lo siento!)
Overhead projector
Banana history information sheet
Different types of bananas for tasting