Tuning in - Brainstorms

»	List all the different varieties of lettuce you can think of.
»	Now list the ways lettuce is used.
»	Have you ever grown lettuce? Discuss and share your knowledge and experience of growing lettuce and similar vegetables.
»	Consider growing some in the school garden or in pots if you do not have a suitable garden site.

Student Tasks:

1	Rearrange the following stages of lettuce production "from seed to salad" so the process is in correct order: Transport Growing Sales Sowing Packing Harvesting
2	Using a small piece of paper or one Powerpoint slide for each stage, draw a picture and write brief notes about each stage, using your own and the class knowledge and the listed resources.
3	List the processes and stages you think are missing from your production line.
4	Do further research to learn about other steps in the process, then make a slide or illustration about those steps and re-arrange your production line to include these stages.
5	After your research, design a new technology or refine a current one that would help the lettuce industry and present as a design brief.

The LandLearn team would love to see your ideas! E-mail to landlearn.program@dpi.vic.gov.au

Collect the information by researching Australian lettuce on the Internet and in the library; visiting a greengrocer or supermarket to look at the range of lettuce and other leafy vegies sold and interview the staff; taking a fieldtrip to a farm and / or interviewing a lettuce farmer.

Extension

1	Where does lettuce go? Use the Tripod Farmers website to research to which countries Australia exports lettuce. In a report, discuss the special processes the farm uses to ensure the product is fresh when it reaches the Australian or international greengrocers, supermarkets and markets.
2	Consumer preferences Discuss at home then list the things that you and your family value as a consumer when buying fruit and vegetables. For example: quality of the food, environmental concerns, price. In class discussion, compare the findings and list your priorities as representatives of consumers. Discuss the implications of these findings for farmers and others in the market chain (such as your "from seed to salad" chain.)
3	Marketing produce With all that you now know about lettuce, develop a marketing idea that you think will get students eating more lettuce. Describe the target audience and outline your marketing campaign to attract their interest (maybe include a slogan and/or logo; you might even design an advert for television!)
4	Grow lettuce Design and plant a colourful lettuce garden using the different textures, leaf shapes and colours to create patterns and shapes that will be revealed as the plants grow.

Resources - Online / CD

»	Bacchus Marsh Fresh Produce	www.tripodfarmers.com.au
»	Sydney Markets Fresh for Kids	www.freshforkids.com.au/lettuce.htm
»	Market Fresh	http://marketfresh.com.au - Victorian site with a range of information, includes a schools' section and activities for students
»	DPI Victoria	www.dpi.vic.gov.au > Agriculture & Food > Farming Industries & Programs > 1) Vegetables 2) Agribusiness > Industry Fact Sheets > Vegetables
»	DPI NSW	www.agric.nsw.gov.au/reader/veg-lettuce - field lettuce production
»	Food Victoria	www.food.vic.gov.au - The magazine Taste of Victoria is available on the website (Tripod Farmers featured in the Spring 2005 edition).
»	LandLearn	http://www.landlearn.net.au The Term 1 2005 edition of this newsletter available on the website includes a list of relevant resources and suggested activities
»	The Story of Vegetables	- CD (2003) The Workboot Series Kondinin

Resources - Print
Outdoor Kids: A Practical Guide for Kids in the Garden (2005) Harper Collins