Feeding a Hungry World

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OBJECTIVE

Students will explore alternative agriculture mthods occurring in urban environments. Students will work in small groups to research various case studies of urban agriculture, create displays/models of the urban agriculture systems, and present to their classmates and community members.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

RESOURCES

Urban Farming Around the World- Time Magazine

The Vertical Farm

How a Rooftop Farm Feeds a City

Brooklyn Grange Farm

Urban Agriculture in Cuba

Urban Solutions from Curitiba Brazil

Urban Farming Projects Flourishing in Boston

Mass Urban Agriculture

Growing Power

Will Allen

PROCEDURE

Introduction (30 minutes)

  1. Warm-Up Discussion:
    • Initiate a conversation around students’ experiences with food (e.g., shopping for groceries, cooking meals).
    • Introduce the essential questions, particularly focusing on urban food systems.
  2. Overview of Urban Agriculture:
    • Present key concepts using videos such as TEDx talks and articles on urban farming globally, emphasizing the innovative methods used in cities.

Group Research Activity (2-3 class periods)

  1. Group Formation:
    • Divide students into small groups and assign each group a case study: Curitiba, Boston, Milwaukee, NYC, or Cuba.
  2. Research Phase:
    • Provide access to online resources, articles, and videos listed above.
    • Each group will investigate their assigned city, focusing on:
      • The specific urban agricultural practices used.
      • The impact on local food security and poverty.
      • Innovations that distinguish their urban farming approach.
  3. Discussion Questions:
    • What challenges does urban farming face in your city?
    • How do these practices help address food insecurity?

Creation of Displays/Models (1-2 class periods)

  1. Design Phase:
    • Groups will create a display or model that represents their urban agricultural system. This can include posters, dioramas, or digital presentations.
    • Encourage creativity by incorporating visuals, statistics, and key findings from their research.
  2. Preparation for Presentation:
    • Groups will prepare a brief presentation summarizing their findings, focusing on the significance of their urban agricultural practices.

Presentation Day (1 class period)

  1. Group Presentations:
    • Each group will present their displays/models to the class and invited community members.
    • Allow time for Q&A after each presentation to encourage dialogue and deeper understanding.
  2. Reflection:
    • After all presentations, facilitate a class discussion reflecting on what they learned about urban agriculture and its role in addressing food insecurity.

Assessment:

Closure: