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In this lesson, students will go on an investigative mission in small groups to explore the impact of agriculture on climate change.
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Click and watch this teacher preparation video to help you understand how to teach this lesson. Here is a YouTube link of the teacher video for your reference: https://youtu.be/A9A__muGHuE
Start Here: Teacher Preparation Video
To understand agriculture, the food supply chain and conflicts in achieving sustainability in infrastructure and industrialization
Explore the impact mass food production has on climate change locally, nationally, and globally
Identify strategies to prevent, mitigate or reduce the impact on the environment of mass agriculture
Collaboration
Communication
Creativity
- Think, pair, share: Ask students to consider the questions on slides 3-5 of the PowerPoint and discuss with a partner or within a small group.
- Where do we get our food from?
- How does food get to our plate?
- How does this impact the environment?
- Share final ideas and thoughts as part of a whole class discussion. At this point, do not address student' misconceptions.
Show slide 6 and encourage students to question and discuss the images.
- Show PowerPoint slides 7-17 which will share the key instructions and tasks within the Minecraft world.
- Divide the class into teams of four and instruct students to enter the base camp in the Minecraft world. From the base camp, students will be given their mission.
- Students will then explore the Minecraft world, following the reporting assignment and visit the 3 different areas, interacting with Emily the NPC, taking photos and reflecting on their initial discussions. Whilst engaging with in-game dialogue and exhibits, encourage students to explore their thoughts and feelings.
- When students reach the end of the 3 areas, they will be asked to look through their photos and make notes using the book and quill. This can then be used for a final class discussion.
- Consolidate learning (slide 17): Students will be tasked with designing an urban farm on the roof of a hospital. The farm should help feed the hospital patients and reduce the hospital's carbon footprint. Share builds at the end of the lesson and encourage students to give reasons for their decision making.
- As a whole class discussion, revisit the opening questions for reflection. Address any misconceptions from the beginning of the lesson.
- Use slide 17 to ask:
Have you discovered anything new about food production?
What have you learned?
What can humans do to help the problem?
- Slide 14 explains how students can access Immersive Reader within the Minecraft world to support with independent reading for emerging readers, students with learning differences such as dyslexia and readers of other languages. Discover more about Immersive Reader here: Immersive Reader
- Students will develop a deeper understanding of issues relating to agriculture from different perspectives and be challenged to think deeply about how it relates to climate change.
Students should be able to communicate their thoughts and feelings whilst addressing some or all these questions:
Why is food production important to humanity?
With a growing population in the world, how might agricultural practices impact the climate?
What alternative ways are there to increase food production without further damage to the environment?
Is there a link between deforestation, transport and agriculture?
What can we do individually, locally, nationally and globally to address the problem of mass farming and food production and its impact on the climate?
Sustainable Development Goals: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000247444
Food Security: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/climate-impacts/food-security/impacts-on-food-security
Check out the Tips & Tricks video playlist that will help you and your students better use Minecraft: Education Edition in the classroom:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkh9rrdH-ARER03ojhFYtmoFDVuACYJLa
More videos added periodically so make sure you check often for more content!
Click and watch the student pause and play video with your class, pausing and playing as needed. This will help your students understand how to navigate through this lesson and Minecraft world and complete the activities located within them. Enjoy!
Check out the YouTube link for your reference: https://youtu.be/EFMfKBVH8F0
Student 'Pause & Play' Video