Despite the necessity of food for our survival, many of us have a very limited understanding of where it comes from and how it is produced. This is a byproduct of the increasing urbanization of our culture. This unit seeks to give students a basic understanding of the modern food production system. The unit begins with a study of the human-generated causes of the Dust Bowl, and how much farming has changed since the early 20th century. Students will learn about the Green Revolution and all the advances in irrigation, pesticide application, fertilizers, and even the use of Genetically Modified Organisms.
Essential concepts: Food and agriculture, plant agriculture, Dust Bowl, wind erosion, water erosion, soil horizons, famine, undernutrition, malnutrition, Green Revolution, irrigation, fertilizers, pesticides, organic agriculture, genetically modified organisms
Graphing the Dust Bowl Activity
Purpose: There were a lot of factors that made the Dust Bowl the ecological disaster that it was, but the biggest was the prolonged drought that struck the region in the early 1930s. This activity will guide students through some data sets that compares the monthly precipitation levels before and during the drought to average levels that are experienced today. Students will use climatographs, giving a good connection to topics covered during the Land Ecosystems unit
King Corn Student Worksheet This 2009 documentary explores the changes that have occured in plant agriculture since the Green Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, and how government subsidy programs have influenced our entire food system. Two friends go to Iowa and lease an acre of farmland to grow their own corn. In the process, the learn about fertilizer, tractors, herbicides, and the eventual fate of the corn they produce -- likely as animal feed or a sweetener called high fructose corn syrup. This worksheet contains critical thinking questions for students to consider and answer as they watch each segment of the documentary
Future of Food Student Worksheet Genetically modified organisms -- corn, soy, and papaya, have been legal to use in the United States for over 10 years. A lot of questions are still being raised, however, about whether the use of these crops is really beneficial. The Future of Food provides a comprehensive look at this issue, covering every aspect of the issue, including how GMOs are made, whether copyrighting life is ethical, the health and environmental concerns, and the legal troubles that some farmers have come into as the result of growing Monsanto-owned seed
Food, Inc. Student Worksheet This 2009 documentary by Eric Schlosser covers many of the unseen consequences of the industrialized agriculture system. The first segment explores the underside of factory farms and meat processing plants. Poultry farmers working for Tyson and Perdue are interviewed, although little access is granted to the actual operations. The second segment looks at the effects of a diet heavy in processed foods on human health. The story of a woman whose 2 year-old son died from E. coli food poisoning is given, along with her efforts to lobby for improved food regulations. The epidemic of diabetes in the United States is related to the proliferation of cheap, unhealthy foods. Finally, a discussion of the future of foods and the growth of the organic industry is given. This worksheet contains critical thinking questions for students to consider and answer as they watch each segment of the documentary
Dirt! - Movie Worksheet One of the overlooked aspects of food and agriculture is the importance of soil. A quick glance at a map of the most impaired soils around the world reveals that this is a growing issue, especially in the most productive areas. Multiple famines throughout history, the Dust Bowl being the most famous, are the direct result of the misuse and abuse of soil. This documentary seeks to show students the importance of caring for soil, giving perspectives of people from multiple different cultures.
The use of Genetically Modified corn and soy is easily the one of the most controversial aspects to our food system. Trying to navigate this issue is extraordinary difficult given the amount information, misinformation, and opinion available. This assignment narrows down the issue to one important aspect: should genetically modified foods be labeled? Students will watch an episode of the BBC Horizon television show called "Jimmy's GM Food Fight" for background, then read an editorial discussing each side of the issue before finally putting their own ideas to paper.