We have started our series of lessons in the Castro Mariano Valley Elementary School! This week the kids prepared a delicious and healthy Mexican recipe contributed by one of our team members. Check out the recipes and the photos of the interactive class!
Country we are exploring: Mexico (Population: 122 million)
Capital: Mexico City
Continent: America
Official Language(s): Spanish
English Recipe Name: Tuna Pie
Name of dish in native country: Pastel de atún
Type of dish: Appetizer
Recommended season or holiday: The following recipe is very popular at children’s parties in Mexico, specially in the Mazatlán region. And one of our team members from Mexico mentions is traditional for her family holidays!
Serving Size: for 6 people

When it comes to health, Tuna fish has it all. It is rich in protein, low in fat, and is an excellent source of the essential omega-3 fatty acids, which make your brain smarter!
Ingredient spotlight: Tuna
Fish are vertebrate animals that live in the water. Vertebrate means they have a spinal cord surrounded by bone or cartilage.
When it comes to health, Tuna fish has it all. It is rich in protein, low in fat, and is an excellent source of the essential omega-3 fatty acids, which make your brain smarter!
Tools (optional): knife, blender, glass vessel, spoon
Ingredients:
- 1 package of white bread
- 1/4 of cream
- 6 slices of cheddar cheese
- 1 tin medium of bell pepper
- 2 cans of tuna in water or oil
- 1 can of vegetables for salad
- mayonnaise to taste
Little Chef Duties: Measure all of the ingredients
Big Chef Duties: Mix all the ingredients in a blender
Little Chef Duties: Cut the edges of the bread and mix the ingredients for the salad
Learn while you wait:
Science: we discussed today the difference of mixtures that are homogeneous and heterogeneous, and asked the kids whether they know which mixture our food mixture became.
Heterogeneous and homogeneous refer to mixtures of materials in chemistry. The difference between heterogeneous and homogeneous mixtures is the degree at which the materials are mixed together and the uniformity of their composition.
A homogeneous mixture is a mixture where the components that make up the mixture are uniformly distributed throughout the mixture. The composition of the mixture is the same throughout. There is only one phase of matter observed in a homogeneous mixture.
You can’t pick out components of a homogeneous mixture or use a simple mechanical means to separate them
(Our tuna and cream mixture)
A heterogeneous mixture is a mixture where the components of the mixture are not uniform or have localized regions with different properties. Different samples from the mixture are not identical to each other.
Math: Can you cut your sandwiches in different shapes, (rectangles, triangles), circles?
Also if this recipe asks for 6, and we need to make food for 12, how much more of each material do we need?
Presentation:
Enjoy a sandwich with your favorite cup of soup or beans
Teach the kids how to say Bon Appetit in the language of this recipe: disfrute de su comida
Did you know?
One of the biggest issues affecting kids in Mexico is the increase in child abduction.
Conversation Igniters:
Do you know what abduction means? What are some ways you can help help find missing children?
Take Action:
Read about some ways you can help with the problem of child abduction, and come to class next week prepared to talk about what you can personally do:
http://www.missingkids.com/HowYouCanHelp
Here some photos of the fun day we had at the Castro Elementary School!
Join the conversation!