Cooking with 28 G7 students was probably one of the craziest units I have facilitated, and the unit before this was the E-Grand Prix!
The showcase and unit were far from perfect—and that was part of the learning.
We were challenged in many ways, embracing the messiness, the imperfections, and the growth that come with meaningful learning experiences.
Our G7 students recently brought learning to life through a transdisciplinary project guided by the driving question: “How might we create dishes that honor Chinese cultural heritage while promoting a healthy and sustainable future?”
One highlight of the project was students creating personalized heritage menus inspired by interviews with their parents. These menus were displayed throughout the makeshift restaurant, hanging from the ceiling as meaningful decorations.
Another special moment was students suggesting we invite the aunties and uncles [Ed. note: custodial team] who help keep our school running, along with teachers—an expression of gratitude and appreciation from the heart.
One student even played some music on the keyboard as guests dug into their meal!
Students explored nutrition with our science teacher, learned about Chinese medicine at the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, and examined sustainability in action at Conspiracy Chocolate.
Throughout the project, students developed practical culinary skills, including boiling, frying, poaching, knife techniques, kitchen safety, and teamwork.
They practiced, reflected, refined, and persevered—analyzing what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve.
The result was more than a meal. It was a thoughtful showcase of cultural appreciation, sustainability, collaboration, and student agency in action.
Go us!
