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Sugar's Cultural Significance

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Sugar's Cultural Significance

Read the short information cards, then solve the activities. Think about how food connects people, places and traditions.

Food, place and tradition

Sugar cane grows best in warm regions. It is grown in parts of Australia and Brazil, among many other countries. People in different places use sugar in recipes, celebrations and everyday foods. A food tradition can carry memories and knowledge from one generation to another. Australia: Lamingtons are sponge cakes covered with chocolate icing and coconut. They are enjoyed at gatherings and fundraisers. Pavlova, topped with fruit, is also a popular celebratory dessert. Brazil: Brigadeiros are small chocolate sweets often served at birthday parties and other celebrations. In some communities, sugar cane juice is also enjoyed as a drink. These examples do not represent every person in either country. Families and communities have many different food traditions.

1.Choose the meaning that best explains why a food might matter to a community.

How much the food weighs
How the food connects with people's traditions, memories or way of life
How quickly the food can be cooked
How far the food travels

2.Which sweet in the information cards is described as a chocolate-covered sponge cake with coconut?

3.Match each food with the country where the information card says it is a popular treat.

Lamington
Brigadeiro
Pavlova
Sugar cane juice

Australia
Australia
Brazil
Brazil

4.What is one reason sugar cane can be grown in parts of Australia and Brazil?

Both countries have warm regions suitable for growing it
Sugar cane grows only in snowy places
Both countries are surrounded by the same river
Sugar cane can grow without warmth or water

5.The information cards say that every person in Australia and Brazil eats the same celebration foods.

TrueFalse

6.A food tradition can pass memories and from one generation to another.

7.Name one similarity between the Australian and Brazilian food traditions described in the cards.

8.How might making a traditional sweet with family help keep a food tradition alive? Give one clear reason.

9.A classmate tells you their family makes a special sweet for a celebration. Write one respectful question you could ask to learn about its cultural significance.

10.Choose a sweet from the information cards. Write its name and country, then explain when people might enjoy it and one way it can connect people.