Maths: Developing data: food miles - Lesson 1

Interpretation of data: food miles - The lesson

Preparation

In previous lesson ask class to record the ingredients and source of their evening meal.

Resource 1 – Where does food come from (87 KB) contains examples of products from different countries and the UK. Adding an example of a local product would be useful in discussion.

You will find more information on food miles on the BBC website among other sources.
www.bbc.co.uk/food/food_matters/foodmiles.shtml

Starter – How far has it travelled?

Use Resource One – Where does food come from?

Ask class to estimate how far these items have travelled. Compare with following:

Food miles – for each item (in km!)

Ask class how they think the products have reached the shop. List variety of transport.

Main activity

Use Resource 2 - Food miles facts (47 KB) and Resource 3 – Food Miles Record Sheet (29 KB).

Students work out food miles for the ingredients for the evening meal.
If appropriate, ask them to work out amount of greenhouse gas given off as well.

Ask them to consider how they could have made their meal more environmentally friendly.

Plenary

Discussion focusing on:

What makes a meal environmentally friendly?
Are there any pros and cons to eating more locally?
Possible ideas – variety in diet, healthy eating, how local?, employment in producer countries – effect on economy if people stop buying beans from Zambia?