How does locally grown produce sold at a farmer's market compare to a more complex industrial system in the way they each affect the environment, people, and the economy? Pupils explore the different types of food systems and how they affect these systems as consumers.

Concepts

farming, food sources, food supply, producers, consumers

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Additional Tags

health

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Instructional Ideas

• Follow-up this lesson with a reflection assignment on their positions as informed consumers
• As an extension activity, have learners choose a particular food item to research and trace through its food system
• Have more advanced or secondary school pupils research the concept of externalities in relation to this topic

Pros

• Includes hands-on, collaborative experience that will engage students
• Very valuable lesson 

Cons

• Some of the instructional procedures assume the instructor is familiar with specific content, which may actually require further research

Common Core

RI.4.4 RI.5.4 SL.4.1.a SL.5.1.a RI.6.4 SL.6.1.a SL.7.1.a SL.8.1.a SL.9-10.1.a RST.6-8.4 RST.9-10.4