Inspire Team

Making Bannock

by for .  
#transforming systems
15 - 20

Goal

In this cohort activity, learners collaboratively create a signature bannock recipe. The goal is to introduce the concept of a system by having learners understand the interactions, relationships, and dynamic qualities involved in making bannock.

Note: Depending on the learners and location, you may choose to rename this activity to be more generic - Making Fry Bread. 

Materials

    Instructions

    1. Pick an Ingredient: Learners will individually choose one ingredient from the list provided on a post-it note/digital whiteboard. They are encouraged to add new ingredients if they feel something is missing. (see Appendix A for list of ingredients and tools)

    2. Get in Order: On the facilitator's cue, learners will work together to arrange their post-it ingredients in the order they believe is necessary to make bannock.

      1. This will likely result in a conversation about different ways of making bannock/fry bread based on personal and cultural preference.

    3. Debrief: Once learners are done, use the questions below to prompt a debrief and help learners understand that the ingredients are a set that can be transformed into a system when they are all connected.


    Background

    Preparation

    • Ensure that all learners have access to a virtual collaboration platform like Miro for visual representation.

    • Familiarize yourself with the recipe steps and the purpose of the activity.

    • Ensure each ingredient/step is on its own post-it or sticky note. 

    Technology Considerations

    • Confirm that learners have access to the virtual collaboration platform.

    • Instruct learners on how to use the platform for the activity.

    • Test the technology in advance to avoid interruptions during the activity.


    Additional Context

    • This icebreaker is designed to highlight the interactions, relationships, and dynamic qualities of systems.

    • Emphasize that a list of ingredients becomes a system when the elements are connected, and that the elements can be connected in many different ways and still become a system.


    Tips for Localization

    • Encourage learners to add ingredients to make the activity more relatable to their own understanding of bannock, or fry bread.

    • Non-Indigenous learners may also have their own cultural recipes for an equivalent of fry bread that they would like to add for consideration in the recipe.



    Debrief Questions

    • What distinguishes a list of ingredients from a final product like bannock?

    • What had to happen to transform the ingredients into bannock?

    • Are there certain ingredients that are critical, and others that are nice to have? Why?

    • Can you use different ingredients or cook it in a different way and still get bannock? Why?



    Appendix A: Bannock ingredients and tools

    • Milk

    • Butter

    • Oven

    • Oven mitts

    • Chocolate chips

    • Oil

    • A bowl

    • Frying pan

    • Baking soda

    • Spatula

    • A stove

    • Molasses

    • Cinnamon

    • Sugar

    • Berries

    • Water

    • Baking Sheet

    • Salt

    • Flour

    • Stick

    • Other

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