Eating Together, Learning Together – The Educational Lunch Plate at GISA

Lunch break at the German International School Accra is much more than simply a break from lessons. It is an important part of our school day – a time to relax, talk, connect and enjoy being together.

Many of our teachers choose to use this opportunity to have lunch together with the students. Sharing a meal creates space for conversations and encounters outside the classroom and helps strengthen our school community. At the same time, important social skills can be practised quite naturally: consideration for others, respectful communication, good table manners and a mindful approach to food.

For teachers who take part in these shared lunches, GISA provides what we call an “educational lunch plate”. This refers to a meal that supports the teacher’s participation in lunch with the children and forms part of the wider educational support provided throughout the school day.

Learning, after all, does not stop during lunch. How do we wait for one another? How do we have a respectful conversation at the table? How do we treat other people and food with care? And how can we all contribute to a pleasant atmosphere?

The educational lunch plate reflects an idea that is important to us as a school: education and personal development do not end at the classroom door. A shared meal also offers valuable opportunities to experience community and develop social responsibility.