The Arctic: Food Security Lesson
Lesson Plan
1 hour 30 minutesGrades6, 7, 8Geography, English Language Arts
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Written by Jennifer Williams, Yen-Yen Chiu
About this lesson
In this lesson, students explore the connection between climate change and food security in the Arctic, understand the impacts on the Inuit way of life, and write a persuasive piece on a potential solution.
Inquire: Students are introduced to the complexities of Arctic food systems through images and build an understanding of the definition of food security globally and specifically in the circumpolar Arctic.
Investigate: Students read about food security and share their learning in a jigsaw activity.
Inspire: Students reflect on what might be getting in the way of food security in the Arctic, brainstorm how they can be part of the solution, and write a persuasive piece.
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Everything you need to teach it
How to edit these materials (video)Teaching tips
Positives
- Students participate in supported class discussion and group work.
- Students practice extracting key points from a text.
- Students learn information and teach it to someone else, ensuring they understand the content.
- Students learn about adaptive management and food security.
- Students are encouraged to consider how their writing will make others feel and to be mindful of the feelings and perspectives of Inuit communities.
- This lesson can be taught in a Social Studies or ELA class.
Additional Prerequisites
- It can be overwhelming and emotional to learn about communities that are suffering the consequences of climate change. Take a look at these resources for help navigating this with your students. Be sure to check in with students as they continue to process these topics and the feelings they bring up.
- Students require a baseline understanding of how climate change works.
- Students should be familiar with citing evidence.
- Teachers can specify writing requirements to target specific skills appropriate to the grade level or current unit.
Differentiation
- If students require more scaffolding for the jigsaw, expert groups could present the information as a group rather than relying on individuals to teach others.
- Students can work independently or in pairs to complete the case study activity in the Inspire section.
- Students can peer edit one another’s writing responses.
- Early finishers can pick a case study from the article in the lesson to engage in further research on adaptive management strategies.
- Students can turn their writing into an informative speech or podcast.
- For further understanding of the Inuit perspective on climate change, students can read "It Keeps Me Up at Night": Inuit Leader Natan Obed Presses for Climate Change Action.
From the scientist review
Human activities and rising populations are causing climate change and reducing food production in the Arctic. This lesson helps students understand the major factors influencing food sovereignty in the context of the climate and develops their capacity to co-create novel solutions to reduce climate change and increase food security. All of the lesson materials were thoroughly checked, and this lesson passed our science review.
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About the teacher writers
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Jennifer Williams
Teacher
I am a certified teacher with a Master's in Environmental Education and am passionate about connecting youth to nature. I spent the majority of the last decade working for ship-based programs. First, I worked for Class Afloat, teaching for a Canadian high school situated on a tall ship. That experience was followed by Students on Ice, leading youth expeditions to the Arctic focusing on environmental and social programming. I am now based full-time in Ottawa, Canada substitute teaching coupled with other values-based projects supporting youth. When I'm not working you can find me out on the Ottawa River or in Gatineau Park hiking or cross-country skiing, making soap, or continuing to challenge myself in the quest to live a single-use plastic-free lifestyle.
Yen-Yen Chiu
Director of Education
Yen-Yen Chiu, Ed.D., is SubjectToClimate's Director of Education. She holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of San Diego, and taught public school for 22 years specializing in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Music for grades 6–12, including Advanced Placement. She is credentialed in English, Mathematics, and Introductory Music, with extensive experience designing interdisciplinary curricula that foster student choice, meaningful assessment, and authentic learning.
Reviews
Jina Han
This is amazing!
2 years ago
