In this hands-on lesson, students will do a comparison tasting of different types of grapes, plan a harvest celebration in their classroom, and learn about the important role of farmworkers in society.
Students will read articles about Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, the 1960s grape strike, and how we can pay tribute to some of the people we depend on for our food.
Teaching Tips
Positives
These activities are fun, hands-on, and student-led, and also include colorful and engaging materials.
This lesson provides a glimpse into an important part of history and gives students a deeper look at some of the people who play such an important role in getting food to our tables.
Additional Prerequisites
As indicated in the directions, be sure to be aware of any grape seed allergies before beginning this activity.
This lesson has specific references to California and California-grown grapes, so teachers outside of California can consider how they might adapt this lesson to their own locations.
This lesson requires one or two 50-minute sessions for taste testing and planning, with additional time required for the celebration.
Differentiation
Understanding the Delano Grape Strike is fundamental to this lesson, so consider reading strategies that might support all learners, such as multiple readings of the text, strategic pairing of students, providing opportunities to reread and summarize, or use of graphic organizers.
Since this lesson involves such varying types of activities, reviewing learning objectives throughout the lesson may help guide students' learning processes and focus them on the purpose of each activity.
For extension activities, refer to the list within the materials, including encouraging further research on Cesar Chavez and his movement to improve working and living conditions for farmworkers.
The assessment task asks students to write a thank you letter to a farmer or farmworker, so consider doing some research on where those letters could be delivered once they are complete.
Consider using some of these extension activities or these posters to supplement this lesson with additional information about other California-grown fruits and vegetables.
Scientist Notes
This resource is a lesson for students on table grapes and explores a bit of this history of cultivating grapes, what kind of grapes we eat, and some of the social costs that came along with producing table grapes. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
5-ESS3-1 Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment.
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 2: History
D2.His.14.3-5 Explain probable causes and effects of events and developments.
D2.His.2.3-5 Compare life in specific historical time periods to life today.
D2.His.3.3-5 Generate questions about individuals and groups who have shaped significant historical changes and continuities.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Reading: Foundational Skills (K-5)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.3.3 Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.4.3 Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
Writing (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
National Health Education Standards
Standard 2: Students will analyze the influence of family, peers, culture, media, technology, and other factors on health behaviors.
2.5.4 Describe how the school and community can support personal health practices and behaviors.
