Milestone 2: What are the causes of hunger?
Essential Question for Milestone 2
Throughout the conversations, learning, and exploration during Milestone #1 students started to grapple with the difference between hunger and food insecurity. We have expanded our awareness of what hunger really is and to look at the causes that humans face.
What are the causes of hunger?
Welcome to the second milestone stage of our project based learning experience! In this stage, we will dive deeper into the problem of hunger and food insecurity and the causes behind it. We will also look at how this problem affects people in different contexts and regions. We will use our empathy and inquiry skills to understand the perspectives and experiences of those who face hunger and food insecurity every day.
Project based learning (PBL) is a teaching method that engages students in solving real-world problems or answering complex questions through a project1. PBL helps students develop key knowledge, understanding, and success skills2. PBL also gives students voice and choice in their learning and makes it relevant to their lives3.
The second milestone stage of PBL is about helping students truly grasp what a problem is, see a problem in different contexts, and unpack how people beyond themselves are impacted. It is about building an understanding of a problem. We will investigate the definitions and dimensions of hunger and food insecurity. We will also explore the causes and consequences of hunger and food insecurity in various social, economic, environmental, and political factors. We will ask questions of wonder and curiosity to guide our research and learning.
We hope you are interested to see our discoveries and learn from them. Thank you for being part of our project based learning journey!
Key Questions To Answer
"Uncovering the root causes of hunger: What's behind the crisis?"
"Shining a light on hunger: What factors contribute to this global problem?"
"Digging deeper into the causes of hunger: What can we learn to solve the issue?"
"Exposing the underlying causes of hunger: What can we do to make a change?"
"Unpacking the mystery of hunger: What factors contribute to food insecurity?"
Uncovering The Causes of Hunger From Human Voices
- Learning how to formulate questions
- Learning how to organize questions
- Learning how to listen intently to acquire key ideas to ask follow up questions for deeper understanding
- Learning how to listen to capture the essence of a person
Resources that Ignited New Thinking
New Thinking Being Mapped Out
Students in fourth grade learn about global perspective by exploring different cultures, regions, and issues around the world. They use social studies and language arts skills to compare and contrast their own experiences with those of others. They also participate in discussions and presentations to share their opinions and perspectives.🌎
Students investigate the causes and effects of hunger and food scarcity around the world. They use social studies and language arts skills to collect and analyze data, read and compare informational texts, and write arguments. They also learn to ask and answer questions that help them understand the problem and possible solutions.🍽
Global Perspective: Livingstone Kegode
Livingstone Kegode Interview
Ignite something in someone, to inspire someone to do something and we have people who can create change, who can identify a problem and work towards a solution
Help others be comfortable with working to make a change
latifundium - large parcel of land that families no longer have access to creating difficulties obtaining food.
And so much more so you will just have to watch.......
Local Experts:
Christina McDonough
2-21-23 FRP PRESENTATION.pptxSlides from presentation
Christina McDonough works at the Scott County Health Department and has been involved with the Food Rescue Partnership since it’s onset in 2013. Each year, she helps the Food Rescue Partnership establish a community action plan to promote rescuing food for its best possible use. Christina is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa where she majored in Health Promotion and is a Certified Health Education Specialist. Her passion for food rescue has carried over into her personal life, where her kids love “left-overs night” when they can put any combination of food together for dinner. They also have vermicompost where they cut up fruit and vegetable scraps to fed worms to make compost!
Processing New Learning
Christina shared information and in particular this graphic that had us stop in our tracks and start to think that perhaps we might need to adjust our thinking and approach to our project. We needed to take time to revisit the information we were presented with and have some conversation about next steps.
One of the key features of Project Based Learning (PBL) is that students learn by actively engaging in real-world and personally meaningful projects1. This means that we need to connect and work with experts out in the field in the subjects we are exploring. By doing so, we can gain knowledge and skills that are relevant and applicable to our project goals and challenges. We can also learn from different perspectives and experiences that can enrich our understanding of the topic and the context. Whether it is local, national, or global, connecting with experts can help us answer our driving questions and create high-quality work that has a real impact1.
To prepare for our local expert, Mrs. Gamble, the Food Coordinator of PV School District, we need to do some research on the current situation of food insecurity and nutrition in our community. We also need to prepare some questions that we want to ask her about her role, her challenges, and her solutions. We need to be respectful, curious, and attentive when we interact with her. We also need to document and reflect on what we learn from her and how it relates to our project.
Corie Gamble
Pleasant Valley Food Service Director
