Hoover SABE

Overview: Culture, identity, and cuisine are an integral part of our lives. Through the lens of sustainability, our students will explore the connection between our “roots” by asking themselves “how can we make our lives more sustainable while honoring family traditions?” As the Sustainable Academy of Building and Engineering, we will be working with industry partners to design and build planter boxes, grow culturally relevant food, and produce a cookbook showcasing these cultural recipes. 

Project Initiation: Our project launch consists of two part. First, students attend a field trip to Coastal Roots farm where they learn about sustainable agricultural practices and food justice. Second students learn about each project component in their various classes. In English they continue to investigate food justice and resources for food equity in our local community. 

Project Exploration and Development: In English students created a community cookbook. They started by invesigating the role food plays in their lives and cultures. Then the thought about how their family connections have been strengthened through food. They wrote food memory memoirs and then a family recipe that is important to their culture. In history, students created little big histories where the researched the origin of a single ingredient used in the recipe. In engineering they designed planters boxes and digital presentations to share with their classmates. The majority of SABE students in all grade levels then voted for their favorite designs. In construction students built the planter boxes based on the winning design. 

Project Revision and Exhibition: Creating the cookbook offered many opportunities for revision and reflection. Students participated in writing and design workshops to get feedback from their peers on their work. Students then presented the cookbook at the annual Village United community resource fair at Hoover. The cookbook was given out to the community. 

Teachers and Subjects: D. Dale - ELA, A. Gonzalez - Construction, K. Hagey - Engineering, P. Vasquez - English, N. Whitlock - History

Industry Sector: Engineering and Architecture