In this design challenge lesson, students examine their school food system and develop an investigation about food waste in order to know what should change.
Context for Use
This is the second lesson in the Climate Resiliency Education Design Challenge Unit. These design challenges are meant to follow the middle or high school Climate Resiliency Education units and to have students come up with real world solutions.
Photo Source: USDA
Program
Resource Type
Lesson
Design Challenge
Action Project
Topics
Middle School
High School
Instructional Time
120 minutes
NGSS Disciplinary Core Idea(s)
Published Date
Goals Header
What Students Will Do
Goals Header
What Students Will Do
Students will learn about greenhouse gas emissions resulting from waste in our school food system.
Teaching Materials
Climate Resiliency DC2 -Teacher Guide
Climate Resiliency DC2 - Student Activity Sheet
Climate Resiliency DC2 – Student Activity Sheet Key
Climate Resiliency DC2 - Slides
Climate Resiliency DC2 - Actual Estimates of Food Waste
Climate Resiliency DC2 - Food Waste Article
Description
- (5 minutes) Reorient students to the storyline.
- (10 minutes) Sharing Initial Ideas Discussion: Identify the interacting pieces to develop model of the food system.
- (20 minutes) Using Models: Draw a model of the food system. Compare and contrast the different parts.
- (30 minutes) Text: Read the Food Waste article and discuss to build understanding.
- (10 minutes) Discussion: Use the models to identify what they should study.
- (10 minutes) Sharing Initial Ideas Discussion: Generate ideas on next steps.
- (15 minutes) Analyzing Data: Estimate how much food is wasted at the school on any given day.
- (10 minutes) Brainstorm: Generate ideas for next steps in the investigations.
