In this unit, elementary students will learn about Caribbean cuisine from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba through a cooking class. The classes will provide students with three unique experiences: they will learn to cook, practice their Spanish vocabulary, and improve their reading and writing skills by creating a Cocina Español cookbook.

I recommend this hands-on method of teaching because it is a fun and easy way to encourage children to develop an interest in the Spanish language. Children are always interested in and excited by cooking classes.

In the lesson plans that follow, I explain how I will increase the children’s knowledge of Caribbean culture, traditions, history and geography.

The lesson plans are divided into four phases:

Phase 1
1. The teacher facilitates a discussion to gauge the children’s knowledge of the Caribbean. Then, s/he briefly explains the geography, history, culture, and folklore of each Caribbean Island.

Phase II
2. Cooking classes, using three Caribbean recipes, are taught in two separate parts. In part one, the teacher outlines each recipe step-by-step. Students learn about the ingredients required and the cooking utensils they will use. In part two, students do the actual cooking. Students will be provided with photographs that show each stage of the cooking process. One section will be completed each week.

Phase III
3. After all of the students have had the opportunity to participate in the cooking process, they will make a Caribbean scrapbook or cookbook about the Caribbean Islands (Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic) and the recipes they have learned.

Phase IV
4. As a culminating activity, students will organize Market Day. Stalls will be decorated and set up. Visitors will have the opportunity to taste the different dishes the children have created during their Spanish lessons.

The following lesson plans are included in this unit:

1. Geography of the Spanish-speaking Caribbean: Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic
2. Caribbean Agricultural Products
3. Plantains and Bananas
4. Culture-Cuisine
5. Cooking
6. Caribbean Cuisine
7. Market Economy