A History of the World in 6 Glasses

Consider the 6 beverages discussed by Standage in his book. How has each of these beverages played a significant role in changing the world? Consider these points as you formulate a response for each:

• What are the social norms associated with each of the drinks outlined in Standage’s book? How do social norms change over time?   
• How has each drink played a significant economic role in various societies? 
• What is the role of beverages in religion? 
• What is the overall impact of these beverages on ancient and modern societies? 

Teaching Suggestion: Students may find it beneficial to create a written response to the prompt using a graphic organizer of the 6 beverages outlined by Standage (beer/wine/spirits/tea/coffee/Coca-Cola). Consider asking students to compare the six drinks, drawing similarities between the social, economic, and religious aspects of each.

Differentiation Suggestion: English Language Learners, students with dyslexia, and those with attentional executive function differences might benefit from narrowing their topic of discussion to one drink. Consider providing students with specific passages to identify relevant content for their chosen beverage.

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.