CP: The Origins of Cooking: How Food Shaped Human History

Set the Scene:

Let’s start with some engaging questions to connect your everyday life to the subject of cooking and its impact on human society. Please consider the following questions:

How does cooking play a role in your daily life, and what are some of your favorite dishes to prepare or eat?
Have you ever thought about how cooking has evolved over time, and what role it has played in shaping human culture and society?
What are some of your favorite childhood memories related to food or cooking, and how have they influenced your relationship with food today?
How do you think cooking has impacted human history, and what are some examples of how it has brought people together or created cultural exchange?
What do you think is the most significant way that cooking has shaped human evolution, and why is it still an essential part of our lives today?

Featured Image Analysis & Prediction:

Take a look at the featured image and consider the following questions:

What do you see in the image, and what does it represent in the context of cooking and human society?
What do you think this activity will be about based on the image, and what topics or themes do you expect to explore?
How does the image relate to your own experiences or knowledge about cooking, and what connections can you make between the image and the subject matter?

Introduction:

Please read the introduction to the activity, which provides an overview of the evolution of cooking and its impact on human society.

Video Engagement:

Watch the video associated with the activity, and pause at the following strategic points to reflect on the content:

Pause at 2:00 minutes and consider the following questions:
- What were some of the key advantages of cooking with fire for early humans, and how did it impact their survival and well-being?
- How did cooking with fire lead to changes in human biology and society, and what were some of the significant consequences of this discovery?
Pause at 5:00 minutes and consider the following questions:
- What were some of the early cooking techniques developed by humans, and how did they contribute to the evolution of cuisine and culture?
- How did the discovery of new cooking techniques and ingredients impact human migration patterns, technological advancements, and social structures?
Pause at 8:00 minutes and consider the following questions:
- What is the significance of cooking in human evolution, and how has it shaped our bodies, brains, and way of life?
- How has cooking influenced cultural exchange, culinary diversity, and the development of complex social structures?

For more information on the history of cooking and its impact on human society, visit the original post at https://maestrocursos.com.br/quizzed-esl-activities/the-origins-of-cooking-how-food-shaped-human-history/.

Key Vocabulary:

Review the key vocabulary related to the evolution of cooking and its impact on human society, including:

Term	Definition	Example Usage
Culinary Innovations	New cooking techniques and methods developed over time.	The discovery of baking using hot stones and clay ovens was a significant culinary innovation.
Food Preservation	Methods used to store and keep food fresh for longer periods.	Fermentation, drying, and smoking are common techniques used for food preservation.
Cultural Exchange	The sharing and adoption of cultural practices, including cuisine, between different societies.	The influence of Asian cuisine on Middle Eastern cooking is an example of cultural exchange.
Culinary Diversity	The variety of different cuisines and cooking techniques found around the world.	African, Asian, and European cuisines showcase the rich culinary diversity of the world.
Human Evolution	The process of change and development in the human species over time.	The discovery of fire and cooking played a significant role in human evolution, leading to changes in biology and society.

Vocabulary Quiz:

Test your understanding of the key vocabulary with the following quiz:

Which word means ‘a change that has a great and lasting impact on something’?
- A) Revolution
- B) Evolution
- C) Milestone
- D) Pivotal
What does ‘anatomical changes’ refer to in the context of human evolution?
- A) Changes in social structures
- B) Changes in the shape and structure of the human body
- C) Changes in food preparation methods
- D) Changes in climate and environment
What is the term for ‘the process of preserving food by allowing it to break down naturally by microorganisms’?
- A) Smoking
- B) Drying
- C) Fermentation
- D) Boiling
What does ‘culinary revolution’ mean in the context of human history?
- A) A period of significant change and innovation in cooking techniques and methods
- B) A type of food that is popular during revolutions
- C) A cooking technique that involves rotating food
- D) A style of cooking that is limited to a specific culture
What is meant by ‘the universal language of flavor and nourishment’?
- A) A specific type of cuisine that is spoken globally
- B) A language that is used to communicate about food
- C) The idea that food and cooking can bring people together and transcend cultural boundaries
- D) A type of food that is nutritious but not flavorful

Answer Key:

Grammar Focus:

The present perfect tense is used to describe an action that started in the past and continues up to the present moment, or an action that happened at an unspecified time in the past and has a connection to the present. In the context of the evolution of cooking, the present perfect tense can be used to describe how past discoveries and innovations have shaped the present.

Grammar Quiz:

Choose the correct answer for each question:

By the time humans discovered fire, they ____________________ their diet to include more meat.
- had changed
- have changed
- changed
- had been changing
The discovery of cooking with fire ____________________ the way early humans prepared and consumed food.
- has transformed
- transformed
- had transformed
- would transform
By the time humans developed new cooking techniques, they ____________________ their food preparation methods for centuries.