You are standing in the middle of the vast Mongolian grasslands, surrounded by the sound of galloping horses and swords clashing. But instead of fighting, these warriors are hungry and craving some delicious grub. So, it's up to us to come up with two menus that will satisfy their hunger and fuel their fighting spirit!

But wait, there's a catch. The Mongolian warriors have a particular taste, and we must use our imaginations to create dishes that will impress them. We also can only use ingredients available in the Mongolian-Manchurian grassland. Are you up for the challenge?

So, let's get those creative juices flowing and imagine the most mouth-watering meals that will make even Genghis Khan's mouth water!

Get ready for a culinary adventure of a lifetime!

Printable & Activity Objectives

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Age: 8 to 9 year olds, Activity Time: 2-3 hours, Items Needed: Writing and colouring pencils

In this activity, elementary kids will be tasked to research about the types of food that the Mongolian army warrior of the 13th and 14th century ate. They will create two "imaginary" menus based on the information they've researched.

It will help your child or student by:

  1. Encouraging creativity and imagination: This exercise allows kids to use their imaginations and develop unique and creative ideas for dishes that appeal to 13th and 14th century Mongolian warriors.
  2. Promoting historical and cultural learning: By learning about Mongolian culture and history, children can gain a deeper understanding of the time period and appreciate the diversity of our world. It also helps them sharpen their research skills.
  3. Develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills: Coming up with imaginative dishes using a limited set of ingredients requires thinking outside the box and problem-solving skills to figure out what ingredients and cooking methods would work best.
  4. Enhances language and writing skills: Children can practice their writing skills by describing the dishes they have invented, which can help them build their vocabulary and communication skills.

Let's start!


Classroom Resources

Simple steps to start:

  1. First, let's start by introducing the kids to the fascinating world of the Mongol Empire. Discuss some of the unique features of the Mongol lifestyle, including their nomadic way of life, living environment, fierce military prowess, and love of horses.
  2. Next, we can divide the kids into pairs or small groups and give them some background information on Mongolian cuisine. Mongolian warriors were known for their hearty, protein-rich diets, which included meat from horses, yaks, and other animals, as well as dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt.
  3. Then, we can ask each group to come up with two imaginary menus (Summer and Winter) that a Mongolian warrior might enjoy while out on a campaign. They should include the ingredients typically available in the Mongolian grasslands during Summer and Winter. To add to some creativity, they can even include some exotic ingredients like spices and fruits from the far-off lands the Mongols conquered.
  4. To make things more exciting, we can encourage the kids to be creative with their menus and come up with fun names and descriptions for each dish.
  5. Once the kids have created their menus, we can have them present them to the class and explain why they chose each dish and what they think a Mongolian warrior would enjoy about it. We can also have the class vote on which menu they think sounds the most delicious or creative.

Research and learn more about the 13th century Mongolian Empire and what the average life of a Mongolian warrior then looked like. Here's a quick introductory video about how a young Mongolian nobleman united the different tribes to conquer and build one of history's largest empires:

Get started on the printable worksheet!


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What's in the Printable Worksheet Pack

This printable activity pack consists of 3 creative printable worksheets to complement your project based learning activity. Here's what it consists of:

  • 2 Mongolian Warrior's Meal Menu Template Sheets
  • 1 Mongolian Eating Establishment Design Sheet

Click on the download link below to get started. Please note that this printable pack is only for paid members.

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