Biodiversity, Food and Farming for a Healthy Planet

Description

General Assessment

Question	Response
What skills does this resource explicitly teach?	Creative and critical thinking skills by making learning relevant and real. How to organize their knowledge into KWL charts. Reflection skills Creating graphic organizers Classifying and organizing data.
What important, related ideas/issues are not addressed in this resource?	The decline in livestock diversity: factory farms mass-produce only a few select livestock breeds that have been chosen to increase production of meat, milk, or eggs. As the number of crop varieties decrease, existing crops become increasingly at risk to destruction by disease and pests. If crops are all identical, it's much easier for a new disease or pest to wipe out an entire harvest.
What important ideas are implied by the resource, but not taught explicitly?	Even small species play an important role in biodiversity. The combination of species enables the ecosystem to prevent and recover from a variety of disasters. There is a link between biodiversity loss and climate change.

Sustainability Education Principles

Principle	Rating	Explanation
Bias Minimization	Good	The self-discovery/investigative approach taken in this resource allows students to draw their own conclusions based on the information they gather in the classroom and outdoors. Students are not influenced to any particular point of view.
Multiple Dimensions of Problems & Solutions	Good	The following dimensions of the issue are addressed: Ecological Health Environmental
Respects Complexity	Good
Action Experience	Good	The resource suggests action projects to tackle the issues and encourages students to come up with their own ideas to educate and inform others about biodiversity and food. Suggestions include, writing a letter to their government representative and/or the Minister of Environment informing him or her about how they feel about biodiversity; growing a garden and having the community, peers or parents share in their learning.
Action Skills	Mediocre	The resource suggests skills students need to take effective action but does not explicitly teach them.
Empathy & Respect for Humans	Poor/Not considered
Personal Affinity with Earth	Good	Hands-on planting activity Field trip to a farm and surrounding area to observe how farming practices have affected the environment.
Locally-Focused	Very Good
Past, Present & Future	Very Good

Pedagogical Approaches

Principle	Rating	Explanation
Open-Ended Instruction	Very Good	Brainstorming, questioning, discussion, research, and reflection activities are included in the lesson plans. Students are encouraged to find as many answers or solutions as possible.
Interdisciplinary and Multidisciplinary Learning	Very Good	Each lesson has a multi-disciplinary approach. Curriculum areas include social studies, science, biology, geography, environmental education, and health.
Discovery Learning	Good	Excellent hands-on activites to discover and build knowledge independently.
Values Clarification	Very Good	Students are given the opportunity to personally reflect on the relationship between biodiversity and agriculture and how it relates to things they care about.
Differentiated Instruction	Good	Lessons provide a good variety of discussions, brainstorming activities, individual and cooperative assignments, field trips, and reflective and analytical opportunities. Suggestions for adaptations are included.
Experiential Learning	Very Good	An outdoor, hands-on activites is suggested - the visiting of a farm to see first hand how farming practices affect the environment and biodiversity. Students investigate a variety of growing methods by testing them on fast growing plants.
Cooperative Learning	Good	The resource suggests strategies to develop cooperative learning skills such as brainstorming, discussion activites and working in small groups so that students work together to maximize their own and each other's learning.
Assessment & Evaluation	Good	The resource provides suggestions for assessment and evaluation. Assessment sample rubrics are provided as well as opportunities for students to brainstorm criteria of good work techniques. Rubrics are suitable for self-assessment and peer feedback.
Peer Teaching	Good	Students actively present their knowledge to peers, parents or the community by hosting a garden/greenhouse celebration. They share their learning through project or poster presentations.
Case Studies	Good
Locus of Control	Good	Extending the learning activities are suggested.

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Biodiversity, Food and Farming for a Healthy Planet

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Description

General Assessment

Sustainability Education Principles

Pedagogical Approaches

Relevant Curriculum Units

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Biodiversity, Food and Farming for a Healthy Planet

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Description

General Assessment

Sustainability Education Principles

Pedagogical Approaches

Relevant Curriculum Units

Brought to you by