In this resource, students will learn how our food choices impact the environment, our health, and animals.
This resource features a video, quiz, discussion questions, lesson plans, and other related resources for students in grades 6-12 and a video with discussion questions and resources for adults.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The Next Steps Toolkit is available in both English and Spanish and includes recipes, podcasts, book links, articles about inspiring people, and a variety of other resources that are relatable to young people.
The videos are thorough and engaging, with helpful graphs, charts, and graphics.
The connections to cultural differences are important for students to consider when thinking about the differences in the diets of various cultures.
Additional Prerequisites
To access this resource, first click "Book Now" or "Get Access," then fill out the short survey to gain access to the links and passwords (either through email or directly through the site).
Be sure to check your spam folder for the initial email with passwords and signup information.
The videos with captions are available towards the bottom of the page.
Differentiation
Give students the opportunity to explore the Next Steps Toolkit in order to access recipes and other resources surrounding this topic.
Preview the two lesson plans and see how they can be incorporated or adjusted to the appropriate grade level and focus for your classroom.
Use the online follow-up quiz to assess students' understanding of concepts presented in the video.
Using the Next Steps Toolkit, ask students to read about one inspiring person with a plant-based lifestyle and write a short essay describing the person's efforts and motivations.
Nutrition, bioethics, and organic chemistry students can focus on the primary research quoted in the resource and the molecular reasons for the connections made between certain food molecules and diseases.
Biology, ecology, and environmental sciences classes can focus on the land use, energy, and water wasted when we grow food to feed livestock, in addition to the extra greenhouse gases that come from industrial livestock production.
Scientist Notes
This video resource emphasizes the morality of eating while also discussing the environmental impact of various food choices, including traditional meat, cultured meat, plant-based meals, organic agriculture, and aquaculture. The video's final recommendation is for low-carbon-intensive meals that are good for the Earth, the environment, and people. It is therefore advised for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
MS-ESS3-4 Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth's systems.
LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
MS-LS1-5 Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms.
MS-LS1-7 Develop a model to describe how food is rearranged through chemical reactions forming new molecules that support growth and/or release energy as this matter moves through an organism.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Language (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.7.6 Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
Speaking & Listening (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.3 Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, assessing the stance, premises, links among ideas, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone used.
National Health Education Standards
Standard 2: Students will analyze the influence of family, peers, culture, media, technology, and other factors on health behaviors.
2.8.8 Explain the influence of personal values and beliefs on individual health practices and behaviors.
2.12.8 Analyze the influence of personal values and beliefs on individual health practices and behaviors.
Standard 3: Students will demonstrate the ability to access valid information, products, and services to enhance health.
3.8.1 Analyze the validity of health information, products, and services.
Standard 5: Students will demonstrate the ability to use decision-making skills to enhance health.
5.12.1 Examine barriers that can hinder healthy decision-making.
Standard 7: Students will demonstrate the ability to practice health-enhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce health risks.
7.8.1 Explain the importance of assuming responsibility for personal health behaviors.
