Grade 1 French Classes Make Bannock Bread

From Holden Davitian '19, Grade 1 French assistant teacher: "In our current Unit of Inquiry, “Where We Are in Place and Time,” we have been exploring communities and traditions from around the world and across history. We have focused part of our inquiry on Native American communities and how their traditions persist today through food, clothing, music, and celebrations. To prepare for our cooking session, we read Nous sommes Métis, an informative story about a family who makes Bannock bread as a way of remembering and preserving their culture. Inspired by this story, students in both French classes participated in a hands-on activity by making Bannock bread, or “pain bannique” in French. This engaging experience allowed our learners to apply their skills as thinkers, communicators, and open-minded collaborators as they followed a new recipe and worked together as a group. Many students made meaningful connections between the bread we made and the types of bread and treats from their own families. Through this activity in French class, our students deepened their understanding of the hard work that goes into preserving traditions while enjoying the delicious results of their hard work!"