Rational


 * Rationale... **

I choose the outcome DR1.3 for my final project because I became really interested in the topic after reading about it, and a lot of lesson ideas and activities came to mind. Food is something that all students are going to be familiar with, but where the food comes from is something that they might not know, think about, or even understand. The majority of younger students will say that the foods they eat come from the grocery store, because that is what they know and observe. The grocery store is where they or their parents go and buy food, so that must mean that the grocery store is where all the food comes from, right? This is not the case, and children need to learn that the foods that they eat are only sold in grocery stores and made in factories. More importantly, children need to learn and understand that the foods that they eat, in one way or another, all originate in the natural environment, and come from natural sources. In this unit, students will learn more about the foods that they are eating, by learning about and studying the different sources and origins (what and where) foods come from. So, where do the foods that you eat come from? And no it’s not Safeway!

The essential question for my unit was: //Where do the foods that we eat come from? //Through my unit, lessons, and activities, students will be able to explore, discover, and learn about the foods that they eat, and where the foods come from (beyond the grocery store). My lessons and activities are fun and engaging. They relate to and bring in parts of students lives through reflecting, questioning, and thinking about the foods that they are eating, and where these foods come from. //What types of foods do you eat? Where do you think these foods come from? What are the different places that foods come from?// These are all questions that students will be able to discuss, learn about, and question regarding the foods that they are eating, where these foods come from, and the foods that are grown/produced around them – local foods. Through the lessons and activities, students will be able to practice their knowledge on identifying the foods that they eat, and add to their knowledge by learning about what and where the foods come from. All learners can be engaged and learn through these activities because they all include elements that students are familiar with – food, as well as elements that can be related to the things that students already do in their everyday lives. In one way or another, all students will be familiar with some types of foods. It is important to get to know your students and the types of foods that they eat, so that they can be incorporated into the unit lessons and activities. This can be done at the start of the unit by asking your students: //What types of foods do you eat? What do you know about these foods?// and //What would you like to learn about these foods?//

I had a lot of fun thinking of lessons and activities and putting this unit together, and especially preparing the first two lessons. I wanted to make my lessons engaging and fun for the students, so that they were able to learn in a comfortable environment, and most importantly remember what they learned. Through incorporating different learning strategies and resources, students won’t get bored or be doing the same thing every time. I will keep excitement and anticipation in the classroom, and from this, all students will benefit.