St. John’s Students Get a Taste of Global Cultures
A heady but wonderful series of smells permeated the Sixth Grade foyer during the middle of January, as students enrolled in Mr. Smith’s “Cultural Mythology” elective presented their culminating semester projects. Tasked with researching a particular mythology of an international culture, students produced their multi-media presentations and the handouts that recorded the most significant content. It was, however, the samples of representative cultural food each group shared with the class that caused the most stir.
Students sampled treats from China, South Africa, Polynesia, Ireland, South Africa, Siberia, Slovakia, Japan, Mexico, and even from the mythical island of Themyscira, home of the Amazons. While not all culinary delights were truly representative of the specific culture (“Lucky Charms” embodying Ireland might be a bit of a stretch), students truly gained a global experience: learning about each culture’s historical context, mythology, and cultural values. As an added bonus, students also may have discovered some unfamiliar types of cuisine.
The “Cultural Mythology” elective — along with its sister course, “Scandinavian Mythology” – is an element connected with one of St. John’s Lutheran School’s Student Learning Outcomes: developing responsible global citizens. Students in Sixth through Eighth Grades are welcome to select the course.
By: Mr. Kevin G. Smith, 7th grade ELA
