From Beans to Chocolate

Welcome: From Cacao Beans to Chocolate
Description: Students will learn about the history of chocolate, as well as the extensive process of growing cacao beans and exporting them to over the world.
Grade Level: 3
Keywords: History, Exporting, Consuming
Author: Jesse Torres

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever wondered how chocolate is made? Today, chocolate is one of the world's most favorite sweets, and is used in a variety of ways. It might sound surprising, but in the past chocolate was used as a luxury food, accessible only to the rich and powerful. Also, at one point in history chocolate was used as a form of money; can you imagine going to the store and paying for your items in cacao beans? In this this lesson you and a partner will explore the early beginings of how chocolate was used and how early explorers came about this "sweet" treasure and exported it to other parts of the world.    

You and a partner will investigate and explore where cocoa beans are grown and what countries are the top consumers of chocolate. Over the course of one week, the two of you will be responsible for creating a poster depicting where cocoa trees are grown and other facts about chocolate.  Facts must include:

• Where cacao trees grow
• Steps need to process cacao beans
• First civilizations to use chocolate and how they used it
• What countries are the top consumers of chocolate

Also, include a timeline showing when people began using chocolate and at least five other dates that you and your partner find interesting.

Tasks for Day 1: 

1. Watch the production and processing of cocoa beans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUggcOD7O-c
2. Watch the video of how chocolate is made: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/videos/chemistry/chocolate.html
3. Visit Manufacturing Chocolate from Seed to Sweed and play the "Let's play making a candy bar from scratch"

Tasks for Day 2: 

1. Download and print the Cornell notes template: Click HERE
2. Download prediction worksheet and print before reading All About Chocolate: Click HERE
3. With your partner, download and read the short text All About Chocolate: https://www.readinga-z.com/books/leveled-books/book/?id=1254 and take notes  
4. Helpful links: 
   -Video about history of chocolate: Click HERE
   -Chocolate facts site 1: https://kidskonnect.com/fun/chocolate/
   -Chocolate facts site 2: http://archive.fieldmuseum.org/Chocolate/kids_facts2.html
   -Chocolate facts site 3: http://old.glossopedia.org/glossopedia/article.aspx?art_id=44&art_nm=Chocolate
   

Tasks for Day 3: 

1. Continue research
2. When completing research, ask teacher to review notes and to provide you with paper for poster
3. Begin process of creating poster using your notes 
4. Remember to provide several facts about the history and process of making chocolate 

Tasks for Day 4: 

1. If you and your partner's poster is not complete, today will be the last day to complete the project 
2. Against another team, play the chocolate trivia game: http://www.funtrivia.com/html5/index.cfm?qid=368972  

Tasks for Day 5: 

1. Posters need to be completed by this day and presented to the class.
2. After presentations are complete, visit Fudge in a Ziplock Bag for a TREAT!

There will be two parts to the evaluation of your team's presentation. First, please download and print the "team evaluation" form by clicking on the link provided and hit the download button. 

Then evaluate your team on the criteria listed in the form. There is a section of notes if you would like to include additional comments. The teacher's evaluation will be the second part and will  use an identical form to compare your thoughts, to those of the teacher's.

It is incredible to see that nearly 2,000 years ago people in Mexico and Central America used choclate as a drink that most people may not like today due to its bitter taste. Today on the onther hand, individuals crave its sweet taste, just remember next time you unwrap your favorite chocolate bar, that making beans to chocolate is a daunting task.