About

Overview

Making Three Sisters Bean Salad is a handson cooking activity that works well at tables in small groups. This activity allows children to explore new flavors and develop cooking skills, creating a culturally relevant snack inspired by New Mexico’s Native American food traditions: Three Sisters—corn, beans, and squash.

Learning Objectives

  1. Children will explore the taste and textureof the Three Sisters—corn, beans, andsquash—and their cultural significance inNative American agriculture and cuisine in afun and interactive way.
  2. Children will develop basic food preparationand fine motor skills through mixing,pouring, and pinching.

Teaching Objectives

  1. Teachers will model healthy eating behavior by participating alongside the children.

Teaching Tips

  • Remember that the more times children are exposed to a new food, the more likely they are to develop a taste preference for that food.
  • Children are more likely to try a new food if an adult models the behavior!

Prep Info

knife and cutting board

Equipment Required

materials illustration

Materials/Supplies

* Optional

handwashing illustration

Before the Lesson

  • To prevent choking, cook and dice squash into tiny, bite-sized pieces—no larger than ½ inch. Allow them to cool and place in small bowls.
  • Drain and rinse canned beans thoroughly. Be sure to dispose of the sharp lid safely.
  • Ensure all cooking tools, such as child-safe knives and mixing bowls, are ready for use.
  • Immediately before the lesson, ask the children to put on their chef aprons, chef hats, and wash their hands.

Activity

Introduction

Making the quesadillas will work in one large group.

“But first, what is something great chefs always do before they start cooking?” (Answer: Wash their hands!)

Activity Description

  1. Prepare the Ingredients:
    • Invite the children to help add the beans, corn, and diced squash to a large mixing bowl. Take a moment to talk about the ingredients' different colors, shapes, and textures.
  2. Mix the Salad:
    • Demonstrate how to gently mix the ingredients using a large spoon. Encourage them to take turns stirring, making sure everything is well combined.
    3. >
  3. Add Dressing and Seasonings:
    • Add a pinch of salt and pepper, if desired. Let the children mix again to coat the ingredients with the dressing evenly.
  4. Add Diced Tomatoes*:
    • For extra flavor and color, add dicedtomatoes to the salad. Mix gently to combine.
  5. Serve, Taste, & Discuss:
    • Serve each student a portion. Invite them toobserve, smell, and feel the food. Let themdecide whether to taste it and share theirthoughts or personal connections.

Summary

Enrichment

Ask the children, “What other vegetablescan we add to our Three Sisters Bean Salad?Could we use bell peppers, avocado, oranother squash?”

Attention Teachers!

Following this activity, please fill out the teacher’s weekly log form for this lesson.

Weekly Log

Attention Teachers!

Following this activity, please fill out the teacher’s weekly log form for this lesson.