ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
How do objects help us understand the story of Wisconsin?
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
- Why do we save things?
- What makes the things we save important?
- What questions do we ask of objects?
- How do objects tell a story of the past?
Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies
Social Studies Inquiry Practices and Processes
- Communicate and critique conclusions. (SS. Inq4)
Behavioral Science
- Examine individual cognition, perception, behavior, and identity (Psychology). (BH1)
- Assess the role that human behavior and cultures play in the development of social endeavors – Anthropology. (BH3)
- Examine the progression of specific forms of technology and their influence within various societies. (BH4)
Economics
- Use economic reasoning to understand issues. (Econ1)
- Analyze how decisions are made and interactions occur among individuals, households, and firms/businesses (Microeconomics). (Econ2)
History
- Use historical evidence for determining cause and effect. (Hist1)
- Connect past events, people, and ideas to the present, use different perspectives to draw conclusions, and suggest current implications. (Hist3)
Geography
- Examine the impacts of global interconnections and relationships. (Geog3)
- Examine the relationship between identity and place. ( Geog4)
Content Questions
- How did Norwegians pass the tradition of lefse making down? How did this reflect their culture from Norway?
- How do cooking tools reflect a group of people?
- How does the food we eat reflect our culture and communities?
Educational Goal Assessment
- Summarize how we use food to celebrate cultures.
- Explain how food represents culture.
- Identify how cooking tools changed over time.
- Examine how foods from different ethnicities are similar.
Suggested Performance Tasks
- Activity #1, Cooking Tool Time Line
Look at the images in attached handout and write down which item was made first, made second, third, and what we use now. There are three categories of cooking objects: the oven, coffee maker, and freezer. (See handout and attached PDF )
- Activity #2, What Can I Eat with This?
Assign groups or individuals a food and have them make a list of different ways that food is eaten. With each food indicate how you eat it. Make a list of foods you eat it with and write down why you think these foods are eaten together. (See handout or link below)
- Activity #3, Why Do We Cook?
Using the handout below have student think about and write a paragraph about why they cook or do not cook.
PBS Digital Studios, It’s Okay To Be Smart, Why Do We Cook? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpfwu__PF7Y)
- Activity #4, Why Potato?
Have students watch the video attached and answer the questions on the handout below. Have a discussion on why Norwegians used potato in making lefse
TED-ED History through the eyes of the potato (https://ed.ted.com/lessons/history-through-the-eyes-of-the-potato-leo-bear-mcguinness#watch)
Additional Resources
- Links to Wisconsin 101
The Swiss Roots of America’s “Dairyland”
https://wi101.wisc.edu/2018/10/01/the-swiss-roots-of-americas-dairyland/
Malted Milk and Infant Nutrition
https://wi101.wisc.edu/2018/08/03/infant-nutrition/
Horlick’s Malted Milk
https://wi101.wisc.edu/horlicks-malted-milk/
Migrant Workers and the Bond Pickle Company
https://wi101.wisc.edu/2017/09/01/migrant-workers-and-the-bond-pickle-company/
- Links to Wisconsin Historical Society Resources
Old World Wisconsin Norwegian Lefse Recipe
https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/pdfs/flavor/oww_norwegian-lefse_recipe.pdf
Nutrition Specialist Gladys Stillmam
https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Image/IM57709
Lutefisk Supper
https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Image/IM79499
- Videos of Lefse Making
Martha Stewart – Norwegian Lefse Potato Flat Bread Recipe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vXqLCK3BrM
How to make Lefse with Rollie and Olga