Conversation-starters: Opportunities for Critical Thinking
Grade 7 Science: Understanding Life Systems: Interactions in the Environment
Can you identify the biotic and abiotic elements in a garden ecosystem, and describe the interactions between them?
Design a way to analyze the costs and benefits of growing your own food versus purchasing the same items at the store/
Design and construct a garden or mini-greenhouse. List materials, and create a diagram as part of your planning.
Explain why a garden ecosystem is limited in the number of living things that it can support.
Grade 7 Science: Understanding Matter and Energy: Pure substances and mixtures
Is garden soil a pure substance or a mixture?
What would you need to mix together in order to make healthy soil?
Grade 7 Geography: Physical Patterns in a Changing World
People have found various ways to respond to challenges and opportunities presented by the physical environment when trying to grow food. What are some local challenges and opportunities that would be different than on other parts of the world? Why are different crops grown in different areas?
What positive and negative impacts can agriculture have on land? Consider the impact on water, air, land and living things
Food security is a global issue that, in Canada, can be helped with some local solutions. What are ways that your community is working to address food security? How are these solutions unique to your local area?