Lesson Introduction: Exploring Food Deserts in Design and Technology
Objective
Today, we will explore the concept of food deserts and how design can play a role in addressing this issue. By the end of the lesson, you'll understand what food deserts are, why they are a problem, and how design can provide solutions.
Activity 1: What’s in My Basket?
Duration: 10 Minutes
Instructions:
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Materials Needed:
- A few small paper cutouts of various food items (fruits, vegetables, snacks, etc.)
- A small basket or container
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Activity Steps:
- Hand out the cutouts to each student (about 5 items per student).
- Ask them to create a “shopping basket” with the food items that they would choose to eat for one day.
- After 3 minutes, discuss as a class: “How did you choose your foods? What influenced your decisions?”
Purpose:
This activity kick-starts the discussion about accessibility to healthy food options and lays a foundation for understanding food deserts.
Activity 2: The Food Desert Map
Duration: 15 Minutes
Instructions:
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Materials Needed:
- Large printed maps of your local area (one per group)
- Colored markers
- Sticky notes
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Activity Steps:
- Divide the class into small groups and distribute the maps.
- Instruct each group to find local grocery stores and mark them on the map with different colored markers (use one color for supermarkets and another for convenience stores).
- Have each group discuss where they think food deserts might be located based on their map analysis and stick notes on those areas.
Purpose:
This exercise encourages students to think critically about their own community's access to food, reinforcing their understanding of food deserts.
Activity 3: Design Challenge - Food Oasis
Duration: 20 Minutes
Instructions:
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Materials Needed:
- A3 paper
- Colored pencils/markers
- Magazines for collage
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Activity Steps:
- Challenge each group to design a "Food Oasis" for a community affected by food deserts.
- They should consider the types of food available, how to make it accessible, and where it would be located.
- Let each group sketch or create a collage that represents their idea and prepare to present it to the class.
Purpose:
This activity combines creativity with problem-solving, allowing students to apply what they learned about food deserts in a practical way.
Conclusion
These activities will lead into a rich discussion on the impact of food deserts and how students can use their design skills to create innovative solutions. Let’s get started!