Unit 2: Food in the Web of Life
I. Graded Assignments
a. 4 reflections (see Guidelines to Writing Reflections) due by October 26
b. Unit test October 26
c. Food Log Assignment due October 19
Food Log Assignment (October 2-16)
1. Record all food you consume each day (including soda and snacks). Include any bottled water.
2. Describe the food:
Where the food was obtained
(garden, grocery, restaurant, farmer's market, etc.).
What factors went into your
decision to consume the food (tastes good, convenient, made for you by a
parent/guardian/friend/relative, etc.).
How far the food traveled
from where it was grown/manufactured to your table.
The overall “friendliness” of your food (people friendly, health friendly, earth friendly, animal friendly), and the basis for your determination of "friendliness".
3. Write a summary reflection at the end of the unit. Describe any changes in eating habits you have made, will now make, or will make in the future when you are buying all your own food. Include any conversations you may have had with parents/friends about food during this unit.
II. Syllabus
Read Meat Facts
Watch web video: The Meatrix I,
II, and II1/2 (www.themeatrix.com)
Watch video: Life Behind Bars
Provide a thorough response to the ethical considerations of using animals for food. You may want to visit other web sites (e.g., Farm Sanctuary, Animal Place, PETA, Vegan Outreach, Animal Protection Institute, etc.) for more information. Try searching “vegetarian starter kit” on the web. There are also useful anecdotes and information in the book The Ten Trusts.
Reflection 7 (Due October 10)
Read Meat Facts (Social Justice Issues)
Read Hog Hell (Social Justice/Slaughterhouse Issues)
Read Food Facts (Health Issues)
See Protein Content of different food types
Watch video: Super Size Me
1. Provide a general response to the
conditions for slaughterhouse workers. You may want to visit other web sites
for more information. An excellent book for a lot of detailed information is Slaughterhouse by Gail
Eisnitz.
2. Provide a general response to the
health issues connected with a meat-based diet. You may want to visit other web
sites and use other resources for more information.
3. Provide a general response to the health issues connected to junk food and a response to the video Super Size Me. An excellent book on this subject is Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser.
Reflection 8 (Due October 18)
Read Food Facts (Environmental Issues)
Read Raising cattle produces more greenhouse gases than driving cars, UN report warns
See Land Required Worksheet for calorie yields of different foods
See USDA Calorie Chart along with the land required worksheet above
Watch web video: The True Cost of Food
(www.truecostoffood.org)
Read Sustainable Food (p.5-9,
11-12).
Found in the notebook
Read Food in the Global Marketplace (p.4-7, 11-13). Found in the notebook.
1. Provide a response to the
environmental issues connected with a meat-based diet. You may want to read the
optional selections below for more information.
2. Provide a response to the web
video True Cost of Food.
3. Provide a response to the selections from Sustainable Food. Make sure to include information regarding the benefits of buying local and organic food. You may find it easiest to write a response to each article individually first, and then write an overall summary reflection on the entire reading.
4. Provide a response to the selections from Food in the Global Marketplace. You may find it easiest to write a response to each article individually first, and then write an overall summary reflection on the entire reading.
Reflection 9 (Due October 26)
Read Issues- Genetically Modified Organisms
Read Food in the Global Marketplace (p.9-11). Found in the notebook.
Watch video: Harvest of Fear
(genetically modified food)
Provide a response to the issue of genetically modified organisms. What were some of the concerns demonstrated in the videos and in the reading? What are the pros and cons of this technology?
Week 9
4 reflections due October 26
Unit 2 Test October 26
Food Log
Vegan Cooking