Webersen Family Grant: Cacao Connections: Culture, Craft, and Conversation
- School Year: 2025-2026
- Applicants: Michelle Nicklas, David Simon
- School: Hall High School
- Subjects: Physical Education & Health Education/Wellness, Science, World Language, Social Emotional Learning, Diversity/Equity, STEAM, Other-Business education
Students at Hall High School will have a unique opportunity to explore Ecuadorian culture, entrepreneurship, and artisanal chocolate-making through an interactive 1.5-hour workshop. A guest speaker will share his personal journey of building a niche chocolate business, including how environmental factors influence the taste and quality of chocolate. Students will participate in hands-on chocolate tasting, comparing flavors from Ecuador and Peru while learning how to identify high-quality chocolate. The workshop connects language learning to real-world culture, sustainability, and business, providing an engaging and immersive experience. By participating, students will strengthen their target language skills, practice critical thinking, and develop cultural empathy. This innovative program offers a creative extension to the curriculum that fosters both academic growth and social-emotional learning. Hall is grateful for the generosity of the Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools, and proud to bring this one-of-a-kind experience to its students, giving them a taste of the target language world in a meaningful and memorable way.