Suggested HWB Experiences & Outcomes

  • When preparing and cooking a variety of foods, I am becoming aware of the journeys which foods make from source to consumer, their seasonality, their local availability and their sustainability. HWB 1-35a
  • I am discovering the different ways that advertising and the media can affect my choices. HWB 1-37a

Suggested Learning Intentions

  • To understand local and global issues affecting food choice.
  • To interpret information to make informed choices while being aware of the pressure and bias of advertising.

Suggested Success Criteria (I can...)

  • Explain the basic journey of food from source to consumer  HWB 1-35a
  • Identify different ways the media can influence my choices. HWB 1-37a
  • Discuss how to prevent food waste eg composting peelings. HWB 1-35a

Suggested Learning Experiences

The European Food Safety Authority has stated there is no evidence that food is a source of coronavirus (COVID-19) and it is very unlikely that it can be transmitted through the consumption of food. However, practical food activities including food sharing, tasting, preparation and cooking are probably going to be quite difficult to manage in a classroom setting during this initial period as children return to school. Fortunately there are still plenty of other relevant activities providing challenge and enjoyment for the children, including finding out about things they may have tried to cook at home.
  • Food and the Consumer
  • Investigate where food comes on a local and/or global scale from eg. the journey a product like bananas makes before it reaches the supermarket. Take account of how it is transported/carbon footprint etc.
  • Find examples of food products that are imported and sold in Britain.
  • Consider seasonal and climate differences, storage, possible damage and food hygiene.
  • Make a dish using local/seasonal ingredients and map the sources of the items you are using. Add up the miles it took to get from farm to fork.
  • Dicuss what can be done with food waste. Show the children all of the different ways the food can be recycled eg animal feed, digester plant,compost.
  • This is the link to Zero Waste Scotland Education pack.
  • Examine Fairtrade products and discuss why people should buy them - Select and prepare snacks using Fairtrade products / explore differences in taste of Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade products / organise a Fairtrade coffee morning.
  • Advertising and the Media
  • Look at a range of food packaging for same product eg, yogurt – compare the packaging and discuss which is more appealing giving reasons for choice.
  • Play a game of “Taste the Difference” with the class. They can blind taste branded and non-branded or budget versions of different foods and see if they can identify which is which. They can evaluate their choices based on just the taste of the food.
  • Brainstorm why we buy certain foods eg, marketing (look, adverts, familiarity); ease (frozen foods require less preparation); taste (sugar and fat appeals to our taste buds).
  • Compare packaging from a variety of products advertised as being good for children and discuss whether they really are eg, cereal, yoghurts, fruit juice.
  • Investigate how advertising companies try to encourage the sale of their products eg, jingles, packaging, famous people etc and discuss media influences.
  • Investigate snack foods that are advertised on televisions during children’s viewing times. Discuss why you like / dislike these advertisements.