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New World Foods and Old World Foods

After the discovery of the Americas by European explorers beginning in the late 15th century, people, plants, animals and even diseases transferred from the New World (the Americas) to the Old World (Europe and Africa) and vice versa in what historians and social scientists refer to as the Columbian Exchange.

More than five hundred years later, it can be difficult to find a country whose diet hasn’t been influenced by the exchange of food. In fact, the foods of the New World have become so integrated into Old World menus that some people mistakenly certain foods are native to their adoptive countries and cuisines. Take for example, Italian cooking (southern) with its pastas covered with tomato-based sauces. It seems incredible that before Columbus, tomatoes did not exist in Italy, nor did the Irish have access to potatoes since both of these vegetables came from the New World.

In this mini unit, you can learn which foods are New World and interesting tidbits about them, find out other food origins, read about the impact of the potato, see a timeline of food, map the foods of the New and Old Worlds and play a food scavenger hunt game in your own kitchen.

Reading

What Foods are Really All-American (New World)?

New World Food Tidbits

Food Origins

The Impact of the Potato

Timeline

The Food Timeline

Projects and Activities

Mapping the Foods of the New and Old Worlds

Cupboard Scavenger Hunt:

For Classrooms: Have students search their food cupboards at home and bring in two non-perishable food items whose origin can be traced to either the New World or Old World – have student present their items to the class and afterwards put the items in a classroom display that separates Old World vs. New World food for the day.

For Homes: Have students search the cupboards and take an inventory of New World foods vs. Old World foods. When they are finished, count the items in each category – which is larger?

Recommended Resource

The Global Animal Puzzle

Now that you know where your food comes from, find out what animals are native to specific parts of the world with the Global Animal Puzzle. The pieces of The Global "Animal" Puzzle are shaped like the countries of the world, so it has all the educational benefits of learning the map of the world with the added bonus of 100 exotic animals located in their indigenous regions all across the globe!

Our Price: $14.95
600 pieces, ages 8 to adult
Purchase here