Feast or Famine Exploration

Overview

This 60-minute lesson focuses on the question: "Feast or Famine: Is there enough food to go around?" By exploring food insecurity, students will understand its human and physical causes and examine the specific case of famine in Yemen.

Learning Objectives

1. Explain the human and physical causes of food insecurity.
2. Investigate the causes and impacts of the famine in Yemen.

Required Resources

• Whiteboard and markers
• Projector and screen for video
• Printed maps of Yemen and surrounding regions
• Articles, case studies, or data assessments on food insecurity and Yemen
• Sticky notes for group work
• A large world map for class activity
• Access to tablets or computers for research (optional)

Lesson Structure

Starter Activity: Water Stress (10 minutes)

• Objective: Link water stress to food insecurity.
• Activity: Begin with a short video (2-3 minutes) showcasing the impact of water scarcity on farming and food production globally.
• Discussion:
  • Pose the question: “How does water stress affect the food we eat?”
  • Allow 5 minutes for students to share their thoughts. Write key points on the whiteboard.
• Wrap-Up: Summarise how water stress can serve as a precursor to food insecurity.

Episode 1: Understanding Food Insecurity (15 minutes)

• Objective: To explain the human and physical causes of food insecurity.

• Group Activity: Divide students into pairs and provide each pair with a case study (real-life examples of food insecurity from various countries).

  • Instructions:
    • Read through the case study together and identify the human (e.g., conflict, poverty) and physical (e.g., climatic changes, natural disasters) causes of food insecurity.
    • Write down a list of these causes on sticky notes.

• Class Share: Each pair presents their findings. Collect and categorize these sticky notes on the whiteboard under two headings: "Human Causes" and "Physical Causes."

Episode 2: Focus on Yemen (15 minutes)

• Objective: Investigate the causes and impacts of the famine in Yemen.

• Individual Research:

  • Assign each student to investigate one of the following aspects of the famine in Yemen, using tablets or print materials:
    • Causes of famine
    • Humanitarian impacts (health, migration)
    • Political and economic context
    • Role of global agencies (e.g., UN, NGOs)

• Template: Provide a simple template for note-taking, with bullet points for key information.

• Share Findings: After 7 minutes, students share their findings in small groups and compile a combined list of causes and impacts.

Episode 3: Class Mapping Activity (10 minutes)

• Objective: Visually relate the concepts of food insecurity and famine to geography.

• Activity:

  • Using a large world map, ask students to come up and pin their findings related to Yemen and other regions affected by food insecurity.
  • Discuss the geographical factors contributing to these issues. Why are certain areas more vulnerable?

• Wrap-Up: Relate the map to the earlier discussions on causes of food insecurity.

Episode 4: Reflection and Action (10 minutes)

• Objective: Reflect on the learning and consider solutions.

• Activity:

  • Prompt students to brainstorm solutions to food insecurity that could be implemented at local, national, and international levels. Use guiding questions:
    • What can individuals do in their own communities?
    • How can governments help?
    • What role do international organisations play?

• Group Discussion: Each group shares one innovative solution. The teacher notes key ideas on the whiteboard.

Conclusion (5 minutes)

• Class Reflection:
  • Recap the day’s learning and highlight the links between water stress, food insecurity, and the famine in Yemen.
  • Encourage students to reflect on how these issues intersect globally, and how they can be advocates for change.

Assessment

• Observation during group activities: Assess student engagement and understanding through interactions.
• Exit ticket: At the end of the lesson, ask each student to write down one cause of food insecurity and one possible solution to take home.

Curriculum Framework Reference

• This lesson plan aligns with the National Curriculum for Geography (Key Stage 3) objectives that emphasise understanding of global issues, environmental impact, and societal interaction with geography.

This comprehensive lesson plan leverages interactive learning to engage students and deepen their understanding of a critical global issue. The varied teaching methods cater to different learning styles and stimulate thoughtful discussion and collaboration among students.