This 10 page packet (PDF) contains everything needed for an interdisciplinary unit that combines social studies and the issue of World Hunger, with science (genetically modified foods), math (percentages/pie graphs), language arts (reflections and vocabulary building) and more!
This unit works great right before Thanksgiving... or any time your curriculum is focused on these topics.
The math/social studies portion is a POWERFUL simulation activity, involving a "world feast." At random, students draw numbers, allowing some students to sit at nice tables and eat a large meal, where other students must sit on floor pillow, and eat a moderate amount, where other students sit on the floor and eat without utensils a very small portion of rice. The simulation shows students the World Percentages of people suffering from extreme hunger. At the end of the exercise, ALL students are then allowed to eat a full meal :) For the activity I've included an explanation of the activity for teachers, a letter home to students/parents + sign up sheet, along with an "entrance ticket" when they enter the "World Feast" and a percentages/pie graph math page.
For the science/social studies unit, students will take part in a webquest in which they learn the pros/cons of Genetically Modified (GM) Foods. After recording their data, they must then give their opinion of whether or not they feel GM foods could solve the problem of world hunger, and if it CAN, if it SHOULD. I've included a two-page worksheet for students to complete (along with directions and multiple, student-friendly websites) to complete the webquest.
For the language arts portions, student are again direction to an online website. This website asks students vocabulary questions--and for each question they get correct, the company donates 20 grains of rice to the UN World Food organization. I've included a worksheet for students to complete while they play the online game. There is also an art/language arts worksheet that asks students to analyze a piece of art entitled, "Empy bowls, Full Bowls" and to write what they believe is the artists' message.
Finally, there is a page for social studies/activism where students get to brainstorm ways in which their class can help relieve hunger in their community and the world at large.
I hope you enjoy this lesson... I know my students did! And I know their knowledge was greatly enhanced due to the fact that they were studying a similar topic in all of their core classes. This interdisciplinary unit is sure to please!
As always, please contact me with questions. You shouldn't have a problem opening the file, as it is in PDF format. But let me know if there are issues :) firstname.lastname@example.org
Thanks and I really do greatly appreciate positive ratings or feedback!