Cooking with the Family: An Integrated Thematic Unit
Unit Level: Early Elementary
Group Members:
Patty Sheppard
Lourdes Zamora
Angelica Orozco

The topic for our unit plan is "Cooking With the Family." Our thematic unit is literature-based, and incorporates the four subject areas of language arts, math, science, and social studies. Each member of the group was responsible for one content area. We chose the topic, "Cooking With the Family," to capitalize on the rich background experiences children have at home. ESL students vary greatly in proficiency level and academic needs, as noted in the educational publication, ESL Standards for Pre/ K - 12 Students (TESOL, 1998), but most children can relate experiences of cooking with family. Activating prior knowledge is an important component of ESL instruction. Cooking is a communal experience, and Mexican-American families impart information and share family traditions while working together in the kitchen.