Fun
Projects
We
started this museum by spending 15 years
studying the potato in depth and putting
together what is said to be the largest
collection of artifacts and memorabilia
about the history and social influence
of the potato. We have been looking into
the wider world of food for about 10 years.
Over the years we've enjoyed the help
of many people and thought you might like
to collaborate with us. Perhaps you have
been studying or collecting some aspect
of food for a long time, too. Contact
us with your interests.
Perhaps
you are beginning to take an interest
in food beyond just satisfying your hunger.
Here are some suggestions on how to get
started and participate with us. As our
motto says, " First we eat, then we do
everything else." Food is our fuel. It's
important. Food is also a lively, fun-filled
topic.
Finding
topics.
Food
topics are only as far as your kitchen,
dining table, garden, supermarket, restaurant
or local food business. Put down anything
that interests you. Cheeseburger? OK.
Put the word cheeseburger in the middle
of a blank piece of paper. Draw seven
spokes or lines from the word to the edges
of the paper. Draw circles at the ends
of the lines. Write inside the circles,
the words: who, what , where , when, why
and how much or how many. These are question
words and they will start your research.
Find
the answers to as many of these questions
as you can. Who owns the cheeseburger
restaurant where you eat? Who works there?
Who else eats there? Who supplies the
cheese, burgers, buns, etc? Where did
the ingredients originally come from?
Who built the building? What is the history
of the cheeseburger? What is the origin
of the company? What is a typical day
like for this restaurant? When did this
company get started? How many cheeseburgers
are sold? How much money does it take
to own one of these restaurants? You get
the idea. Don't like cheeseburgers? What
about your processed favorite fruit, such
as applesauce? Do the same planning activity.
Once
you have your topic and questions, take
a notebook, tape recorder or video camera
to a place where you can get some answers.
It might be as close as your favorite
cook, gardener or supermarket manager.
Ask for an appointment. Tell them you
are doing a project on food history. Let
them know how much time you might need.
And be sure to thank them at the end.
Now
that you have some answers you need to
think of how you are going to report on
this research. We at The FOOD Museum write
books, create actual and virtual exhibits
and put up this website to present what
we have discovered. You might consider
the following: design a multi-media presentation
using Power Point or Hyperstudio or similar
software; make a documentary film; set
up a tabletop exhibit; create and perform
a play or skit; draw a picture, map, or
poster; sew or weave something; take photos;
write a poem, essay, short story, illustrated
book, play or song; create a diorama,
sculpture, some jewelry, a dance or musical
composition, jokes, puzzles or games;
or start a hobby collection.
Whatever
you do, consider being one of our correspondents
and staying in touch with us at The
FOOD Museum.
Contact Us
