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The activity
- To begin this activity brainstorm a list of factors that can be considered when choosing which food to buy? For example, Is the food healthy, fresh, tasty, low cost, habit, convenient, in season, less processed, sold at a supermarket, sold at a green grocer, sold at a farmers' market, locally grown and processed, produced on a large farm, produced on a small family farm, organic, biodynamic, produced with hydroponics, genetically modified, packaged using minimal material? Is the food grown using conversation farming methods, and / or alternative energy sources (wind / hydro / biofuels)? Does it contain animal products and are water efficient farming methods used? Do you buy it because of the advertising? This list is not exhaustive. You may wish to add other criteria.
- Break students into small groups and assign each group with some of the factors on the list to discuss. Each group should present to the class why the factors they are investigating would be valued as important.
- Using the Worksheet: Food Choices, ask students to rank which values they think are most important to least important.
- Ask students to put up their hands for which factors they believe to be most important. Circle these on the board and discuss why.
- Place the egg cartons at the front of the room. Give each student $8 to spend. They must choose which carton of eggs to purchase. However, the money they have left over can be used to purchase jelly beans at 50c each. Students should record their results on their Worksheet: Food Choices.
- Finally, students should identify and assess the values they used to purchase the eggs against the values they identified as important.
- As a class, discuss the complexity of food choices and the impact that these consumer 'values' have on farmers and farming practices.
Extension activities
Investigate the principles of Permaculture, Organics, Biodynamics, Conservation Farming or Hydroponics and apply them when growing food at your school.
Related LandLearn activities
Biodiversity in Balance activity booklet on the LandLearning CD.
Learning in the Garden activity booklet on the LandLearning CD.
Plant Power activity booklet on the LandLearn Resource Booklets CD
Planning for Sustainable Land Use activity booklet on the LandLearn Resource Booklets CD
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Food Choices - Worksheet
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