May 18 - 22

Hello Jags,

I hope everyone is doing well. I know everyone is excited about the country starting to open-up again. I am in DIRE need of a haircut, so I'm looking forward to visiting the barber shop in a week or so (hopefully). I would just like to encourage everyone to stay safe, practice social distancing, wear a mask if you go out in public, and to wash your hands frequently. We are not out of the COVID-19 woods yet, so continue to make good decisions.

I would like to thank all of you who have continued to participate in our remote learning. It takes a special type of person to continue to work hard during a situation like this. One of my favorite saying is "character is defined by how you act when no one is looking" and I must say, you have exceeded my expectations and I am very proud of you!!!

For this week, I would like you to do 3 activities:

1. I would like you to take a look at your magnet activity from the last couple of weeks and think about what is being done all over the country to help get food to those in need. Hopefully, we can take the lessons we learn from this situation and apply it to other times of need (hurricanes, floods, tornados, fire, Earthquakes) and/or times when everything seems to be okay (remember, someone, somewhere will always need a helping hand). I would like you to post your thoughts on the Dotstorming board that I have created. Take some time to think about your post, as I would really like you to put some deep thought behind your response. Magnet Activity Dotstorming Board- https://dotstorming.com/b/5ec3f0964e0448050864db9d
2. I would like you to do another "Snack-Off" activity. I was really impressed with the items you made over the last couple of weeks. I think that the best way to learn is to do. The "Snack-Off" activity gives you the chance to be creative and experimental, which can lead to some really fantastic discoveries. Try to use some ingredients, flavors, textures and spices that you might not be very familiar with, you might just realize you like something you didn't think you would. I have created another Dotstorming board for you to post your work on. Please make sure to include important information like the ingredients and the cooking methods that you used. Also, make sure to take photos of your work and include them in your post.

Snack-Off Dotstorming Board - https://dotstorming.com/b/5ec3ee784e0448050864db03

3. The last thing I would like you to do this week is to make a dish that is either vegetarian or vegan. Vegetables are very sustainable, full of vitamins and minerals, low in fat (most are fat free), inexpensive,easy to grow at home and delicious. I know some of you cringe when you hear the word "vegetable" but there are millions of recipes out there full of flavor that do not include meat. I'm sure you've heard about meat processing plants shutting down, the price of meat going up and possible meat shortages due to COVID-19. I'm not trying to convert you into a vegetarian or vegan, but it would be a good idea for all of us to have a few meatless recipes that we like in case we get to a point where we cannot eat meat in every meal. You can make anything you like, but I would like you to make an actual cooked dish, so a salad does not count. For this assignment, all I want you to do is take pictures of you making the dish and I would like for you to be able to participate in a class discussion (next Monday and Tuesday). If you use a recipe, make sure to remember where you got the recipe so that myself and others could make the dish as well.

Again, I'm very proud of all the hard work you have done during remote learning. I know everyone is looking forward to getting back to as normal of a life as possible, just hang in there and we'll get through this together. The most important thing is to stay safe, stay healthy, stay positive, and tell your family that you love them. I look forward to seeing your posts and hearing about all the amazing dishes that you cook this week.