「Do the Dishes」
by TCS Int’l Preschool
【Life themes】時空因縁 Adapting ourselves to space and time
【Central idea】The food we eat and share reflects our backgrounds.
〜Unit Summary（テーマ概要）
This Unit is about understanding our place in the world by looking at food as a way for the learners to explore and learn about different cultures.
We will explore where different food comes from and what types of food people eat in different countries.
We’ll talk about why people in different countries eat certain foods and how they prepare them. We will also learn about how food connects people and cultures, both close to us and from around the world.
In this Unit, we will begin by reviewing the basic flavors—sweet, spicy, sour, and salty—as we think about the food we eat every day, along with special dishes enjoyed here in Japan. Each week, we will focus on a different culture, learning about its traditional foods, cooking methods, dining customs, and celebrations.
The purpose of this Unit extends beyond simply reflecting on daily meals. Our goal is to inspire children to be open to trying new foods and flavors and to spark curiosity about other cultures, using food as a meaningful pathway. Through this exploration, we’ll discuss how food traditions often travel and blend across cultures, leading to the creation of exciting and diverse dishes.
This Unit will also support the development of fine motor skills, as children engage in a variety of cooking techniques. Additionally, we’ll enrich our learning with hands-on experiences by visiting local neighborhood markets as well as international markets across Tokyo. This promises to be a fun, engaging, and flavorful unit for everyone!