Taro

Taro
Lisa Daly
Grades 3 - 5
August 15, 1998

Purpose: The intent of this lesson is to use taro as a way to introduce students to movement of crops and staples throughout history. Students will be encouraged to investigate the many uses of taro and its significance to the Hawaiian people. Students will have an understanding of the cultural uses of taro and the physical conditions needed for it to grow.

Objectives:
The students will be able to:

listen and look for information and then review story and pictures
identify possible locations for this story
locate taro growing areas on a map and how it got there
explain intercultural contact and how taro has been adapted in Hawaii
trace human/taro migration to Hawaii using an atlas or world map
locate todaỳs taro growing areas using a map of Hawaii
investigate the physical and cultural features that give a location its particular identity
understand the cultural significance of taro and its many uses.

Hawaii Content and Performance Standards:
The geographically informed person knows and understands:

4. The physical and human characteristics of places. The characteristics, distribution, and migration of human population on Earth's surface. The characteristics, distribution, and complexity of Earth's cultural mosaic The patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth's surface. The processes, patterns, and functions of human settlement The changes that occur in the meaning, use, distribution, and importance of resources.

Geographic Skills:
Acquiring geographic information, Analyzing geographic information, Asking geographic questions.

Geographic Themes:
Movement, Location, Place, Human/Environment Interaction, Region.

Lesson can be used with a unit on Migration, Plants, or Hawaiiana.

Materials Needed:

Atlas, world maps, map of Hawaiian islands
Blank maps to write on
Sione's Talo by Lino Nelisi
A Trip to the Taro Patch by J.Hanohano
Back to the Roots by D. Hall 58 min, video

Procedure:

Sione's Talo

Discuss where they think this story takes place and why, and what they know of talo. KWL Chart.
Teacher will share about the taro.
Using a map the students will locate the migration routes of taro and then label these routes on a blank world map.
Read A Trip to the Taro Patch.
Video Back to the Roots.
After discussing water rights, have students draw a picture of how the water is distributed.
Students will use a map to identify places where taro is grown today.
Students will research and brainstorm on the uses of taro.
Students will match names for taro around the world and then check it against the key.
Students will be given the main growing areas of taro in Hawaii today and will locate those areas on a map of the Hawaiian islands.
Students will talk to family and friends and contribute something they have learned from them.
Students will plant taro, as well as cook and eat it.
Students will each make a Hawaiian quilt pattern of taro.
Students will label the parts of the plant and the uses of each part.
Students will complete the KWL Chart.

Assessment:

KWL chart will be completed and students will compare what they knew then to what they know now.
Successful completion of tasks assigned.
Students' maps (taro migration routes and Hawaii taro growing areas) will be checked for accuracy.
Teacher's observation of students' participation.

Extensions:

Field trip to taro growing areas.
Collect taro recipes and try some.

References:

Begley,B.W. 1979.Taro in Hawaii. Oriental Publishing Co., Honolulu, Hawaii.
Carruthers, S. 1994. The Flame Tree Cookbook.GP Publications, Wellington, New Zealand
Hall, D.N., and V. Keith. 1994. Back to the Roots. Victoria Keith Productions. Honolulu, Hawaii. 58 min. video.
CTAHR. 1997. Taro Mauka to Makai, A Taro Production and Business Guide for Hawaii Growers. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Handy, E.S.C., and E.G. Handy, 1972. Native Planters of Old Hawaii: Their Life, Lore and Environment. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Hanohano, J., E.V. Smith, and D. Penna. 1978. A Trip to the Taro Patch. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Kauai, Hawaii.
Krauss, B.H. 1993. Plants in Hawaiian Culture. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Na Lima Kokua. 1977. Taro (Kalo) Uses and Recipes. Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden, Kauai, Hawaii.
Nelisi, L. 1992. Sione's Talo. Ashton Scholastic, Auckland, New Zealand.
Whitney, L.D. 1939. Taro Varieties in Hawaii, Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 84, Honolulu, Hawaii.
HYPERLINK http://www.hawaii-nation.org/canoe/kalo.html Canoe Plants of Ancient Hawaii
HYPERLINK http://kalama.doe.hawaii.edu/hern95/pt027/lunch/taro/taro.html Taro (Kalo)