This INSET training day enabled the teaching staff to focus together on the food theme and at the same time be in different environments which stimulated new ideas relating to food, creativity and exploration of food through art.

Outline of the day:

An expert's commentary and a critical evaluation on paintings in the National Gallery depicting food and issues associated with it. These paintings included:

Caravaggio "Supper at Emaus" (See National Gallery details)

Beuckalaer "Four Elements"
Air (See National Gallery details)
Earth(See National Gallery details)
Water (See National Gallery details)
Fire (See National Gallery details)

Melendez "Still life with Organges and Walanuts" (See National Gallery details)

The teachers used formal critical evaluation methods to understand and talk about further paintings which they selected themselves from the National Gallery Collection.

Lunch together encouraged comment and discussion about what was being eaten

See comments and observations about the meal

There was a visit to London's Chinatown to engage in exploration and discussion about food in a different culture and to buy a food item which has not been tasted before. The items will be used for further work back at school.

The group visited the food hall at Fortnum and Masons Store to develop ideas about food display and choice of food items.