Did you know that the rice plant belongs to the same plant family as the grass that grows on our school field?
Did you know that in the Philippines, a rice cake called Biko is often served at special occasions like birthdays?
Rooms 5 students have been learning about rice along with other important foods in the Philippines.
Exploring the food of the Philippines has highlighted the integrated concepts of how:
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A country's location influences its culture.
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Learning about other cultures helps us understand the world.
Learning activities have included:
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Learning about the climate and environment of the Philippines and investigating what food they produce and eat
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Researching rice
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Sequencing the process of growing rice
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Comparing and contrasting what foods we produce and eat in New Zealand with what food is produced and eaten in the Philippines
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Unpacking Filipino folk tales about important foods—The Legend of the Pineapple
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Making connections between food and the cultures of students within the class
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Reflecting on why certain foods are important to certain countries
Learning about the foods of the Philippines also means tasting the foods of the Philippines. Students have been brave and tried Biko, a Filipino sticky rice cake. Interestingly, the response to the Biko was overwhelmingly positive.
Tasting pineapples (that we discovered were actually grown in the Philippines) and mangos was also an enjoyable experience. Overall, there was a general consensus that the foods of the Philippines are yummy!
The rice plant looks a lot like our grass. I found a piece of grass going to seed up in the maze. It looked very like rice seeds.
Mrs. Sprague found cutting up the mangos hard. She said it was her first time cutting a mango. My mum and grandma are very good at cutting mangos. We eat mangos all the time because it is the national fruit of India.
Reading group 3 read school journals about rice. We saw the rice seeds being dried on the road.
We made a Google Slide all about rice. I found out that some people eat it three times a day.
We listed all the different ways we eat rice in New Zealand. It made me hungry. I like sushi.
I found that the Philippines is the seventh biggest rice-producing country in the world. The biggest rice-producing countries are in Asia. The climate is good for growing rice, and the countries have large populations to feed.
The Legend of the Pineapple told us why the pineapple has so many eyes. The message of the folktale was to be good to your mother and not be naughty or lazy, or you might turn into a pineapple.
Eliya taught us how to say “Biko” properly. She and Winter had eaten it before because they come from the Philippines.
Mrs. Sprague's first attempt at making Biko was a disaster; she showed us a picture. But she learnt from her mistakes, tried again, and it was better.
I could taste the coconut in the Biko. I really liked it.
Sticky rice is yummy, but the pineapple and the mango were my favourites.
Mrs. Fitzsimmons bought us two pineapples that were actually grown in the Philippines. I think they got to New Zealand on a plane because a ship might take too long and the fruit would not last.
We eat something similar to Biko in Sri Lanka. My dad makes it.
I have been teaching since 2004. I started teaching at Wairakei Primary School in 2011. I am married to Steve and we have two children – Myles and Amelia. Myles and Amelia both enjoyed their primary school years here at Wairakei Primary School. I am really proud to be part of this school and appreciate all the amazing opportunities that are given to our children.
I like working with children and teaching. I love the fun that can be had and the feeling of being a part of a child’s growth and development. My favourite subject is maths. I appreciate the patterns and connections that can be found in numbers and I enjoy problem-solving. I have trained as a Math Specialist Teacher (MST).
My family and I love living in the Taupō area. When I’m not teaching I enjoy spending time with my family, walking my dog and mountain biking - which is a particular family passion.
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