Carbon Footprint of Food Lesson

In this lesson, students use real greenhouse gas emissions data to compare the environmental impact of different foods through rate and ratio calculations. Students practice proportional thinking in a real-world context, connecting math skills to everyday food choices and climate change.

Inquire: Students explore an interactive data tool showing the environmental resources required to produce different foods.

Investigate: Students select pairs of foods, record their emissions data, and complete a series of rates and ratios to compare environmental impacts.

Inspire: Students discuss what their calculations reveal about food and the environment, then reflect as a group on what they learned and what surprised them.