Teach students how to waste less food
Food waste is a growing global issue with a third of all of the world’s food going to waste.
In New Zealand, the average family throws away three full shopping trolleys of edible food every year – which is a massive waste of money.
Love Food Hate Waste New Zealand has created four food waste lesson plans that can be used by primary or intermediate schools to explore the issue of food waste. The focus is on raising learners’ awareness of how their actions contribute to this global issue and the impact of wasting food.
Activity 1: How much food do we waste?
This practical hands-on activity links to the maths curriculum and is suitable for students of any ages. Learners determine how much food they waste and how much rubbish they create when they don’t finish their lunch.
Activity 2: How do we eat apples?
This activity links to the maths curriculum and looks at how the way we eat our food can influence how much we waste. It compares two different ways of eating apples to find out which wastes less food.
Activity 3: Why is wasting food wrong?
This activity links to the social science curriculum and asks learners to consider the time and energy which goes into making our food.
- Activity 3 – Lesson plan
- Activity 3 – Why is wasting food wrong? Powerpoint
- Activity 3 – Apple supply chain cards
- Activity 3 – Apple inputs activity cards
Activity 4: How can we store our food longer?
This activity links to the science curriculum and explores why cut fruit and vegetables turn brown and what methods can be used to slow the browning process.
Additional resources
For ideas on how to reduce the amount of food waste your school creates, click here.
New Zealand posters, infographics and recipe cards can be downloaded here.
Love Food Hate Waste Scotland have also created a series of lesson activity on food waste many of which can be adapted to the New Zealand curriculum. View their lessons here.
