It was our final week in the kitchen with our first graders for the year, and we ended our culinary journey on a sweet note, as all meals should! In the classroom, we read Islandborn, written by Junot Díaz and illustrated by Leo Espinosa. Lola, the protagonist, was born in the Dominican Republic but moved to New York City when she was a baby. While working on a school project, she interviews friends and family and connects with the vibrant, colorful place from which she came.
In the kitchen, we made Dominican arroz con leche, scented with cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and nutmeg, as well as a tropical fruit salad. Even with such a short unit, I think we were able to show how many different, delicious ways there are to prepare rice and to celebrate how many different people make one nation. We hope all of our first grade families will keep our theme going at home and keep the discussion alive around the dinner table!
