May 2017 – Pineapple Salsa
Mini-Lesson Ideas: Writing and Social Studies
Find more information online at http://nutritionservices.mpls.k12.mn.us/true_food
1. FOOD HISTORY: Just as we are born in one spot, fruits and vegetables were also found first in a
particular place. The pineapple plant originated from the region of southern Brazil and Paraguay. Native
people spread the plant through the rest of the South American continent, and it was ultimately
transported to Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico. In Mexico, two American Indian groups, the
Aztecs and Maya, cultivated the pineapple plant. The Aztec people grew pineapple to eat, but also used
it for other purposes. For example, people hung pineapple crowns over the doorway of homes to signify
visitors were welcome in their home. Today, pineapples still signify friendship & hospitality (the friendly
and generous acceptance and entertainment of strangers, guests, & visitors) and are often incorporated
into designs in architecture and art, and special meals.
People of different cultures express hospitality differently. Think of ways people have shown hospitality
to you, or how you and your friends/family show hospitality to others. Write about a time that stands out
in your memory, or about a way you would like to express hospitality to others in the future.
2. GEOGRAPHY
Pineapple originated two countries in South America. Use the map to the right to identify these two
countries.
Country #1
I am a land locked country, meaning I
don’t have any ocean coast. I share
borders with three countries.
What country am I? _______________
Country #2
I am a country on the east coast of
South America. The equator runs
through me. I share part of my border
with Country #1
What country am I? _______________
3. ART PROJECT: DESIGN A SALSA LABEL
Salsa is the Spanish and Italian word for sauce. Salsas can contain a variety of ingredients that give them
a unique taste such as spicy, mild, sweet, fruity, or bitter. When ingredients are mixed together, it’s
often difficult to determine which ingredients are included and how spicy the salsa is. People work for
companies designing exciting labels they hope will grab a shopper’s attention so the company’s product
will be purchased. Below are some examples of salsa labels. After looking at the example salsa labels,
draw your own!
What kinds of ingredients would you put in your salsa? What picture or descriptive words do you think
will make people want to buy your salsa? Where in the store would your salsa be located? In what ways
do you think advertisers design their labels to appeal to a particular type of shopper?
True Food Taste Tests sponsored by:
4. WORD SEARCH: Can you find the listed recipe ingredients hidden in the word search below?
CILANTRO ___
JALAPEÑO ___
OIL ___
ONION ___
PEPPER ___
PINEAPPLE ___
SALT ___
VINEGAR ___
References:
http://s3images.coroflot.com/user_files/individual_files/original_364675_msQAqZtGLz0I4bEVO1wljuon_.png
https://asquaredart.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/pine_salsa.jpg
http://www.dennydoes.com/images/label_salsa_hot.jpg
http://cmykate.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/AppleSalsa_final.jpg
http://www.global-unlimited.com/Pages/SCorner/SRoutes/SRC_C01.html
https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/pineapple.html
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/WordSearchSetupForm.asp?campaign=flyout_teachers_puzzle_wordcross
2)
About 3,820 miles to Madrid; (C) 21 days; Factors: Pineapple could not be grown outside in Europe because it
required a tropical growing climate, the long voyage on a ship made it prone to spoiling, it was expensive to import
food from far away, voyages of the sea often experienced unpredictable weather which delayed their journey, rich
people took pride in displaying their wealth by purchasing foods and goods that were not affordable to the lower
and middle classes.
Answers:
True Food Taste Tests sponsored by: