Social Justice Thematic Unit Development Map

For the creation of grassroots, interdisciplinary, skills-driven, project-based curriculum

Unit Topic / Problem: Healthy Eating and Food Deserts Unit Relevance: Why is this topic important for students to study?Everyone deserves access to healthy life choices.

Quarter 4

Duration5 weeks

Essential Questions1. Who has access to healthy food?2. What is a food desert?3. How does the food we eat affect us?4. How can we address these food

health issues?

Learning Activities, Projects, ProductsEnd Products (summative assessments)

Create and maintain a garden Create brochures about healthy

eating, who has access to healthy foods, and what can be done to solve the food desert issue

Write letters to advocate for healthy food stores

Key Learning Activities (formative assessments)

Food logs that assess daily food intake

Photosynthesis quiz Field trip and guest speaker

reflection Growing plants in class Analyzing the food access in one's

own neighborhood Writing a song about the history of

food deserts Evaluating of processed foods video-

Do you agree that the healthy foods are there for everyone?

Essential Threads (check those that most apply)

Race Class Gender

Culture Economics Politics / Gov.

Oppression Resistance Resources

Immigration Labor Land / Geography

Understand who has access to healthy food and why     

Understand the importance of healthy eating (weight problems and other physical/mental problems)

Local – Historical / Culturally Relevant Understanding

Understand how diets have changed since the existence of processed foods

Understand how food deserts came

Essential Learning Standards (list others on back)Integrate literacy, social sciences, arts, & others:

Essential Illinois Learning GoalsSTATE GOAL 12: Understand the fundamental concepts, principles and interconnections of the life, physical and earth/space sciences.STATE GOAL 22: Understand principles of health promotion and the prevention and

Copyright © 2012 by Chicago Grassroots Curriculum Taskforce

Social Justice Thematic Unit Development Map

For the creation of grassroots, interdisciplinary, skills-driven, project-based curriculum

into existenceGlobal Connections (past and/or present)

Learning about the rise of factory farming in the late 20th century

Understanding how the farming industry changed forever from mom and pop to corperate farming

treatment of illness and injury.STATE GOAL 16: Understand events, trends, individuals and movements shaping the history of Illinois, the United States and other nations.   

Essential Common Core StandardsCCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.9-10.1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.1 Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.6 Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology’s capacity to link to other information and to display information flexibly and dynamically.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.7 Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.          

Video on processed foods: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP0o8T1mZPI

Data on Chicago food deserts: http://www.marigallagher.com/site_media/dynamic/project_files/Chicago_Food_Desert_Report.pdf

Addictive food article: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-10-11/news/chi-20yearold-snack-with-high-levels-of-salt-and-fat-inspires-fanatic-loyalty-among-kids-20121011_1_ashley-gearhardt-snacks-addiction

John Mellencamp's "Rain on the Scarecrow" video and lyrics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joNzRzZhR2Y http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/johncougarmellencamp/rainonthescarecrow.html

Photosynthesis Rap: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-t0sGyjfto

“History of Food” http://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/teaching-the-food-system/curriculum/_pdf/History_of_Food-Background.pdf

“A Brief History of Englewood” http://www.chicagoreporter.com/news/2007/10/brief-history-englewood

“Food Deserts: What Are They?” http://successorganics.com/food-deserts-what-are-they/

"The School Cafeteria, American Cuisine, and Processed Foods"

Copyright © 2012 by Chicago Grassroots Curriculum Taskforce

Social Justice Thematic Unit Development Map

For the creation of grassroots, interdisciplinary, skills-driven, project-based curriculum

section of Chapter 8 in Spring's "The American Society"

Primary Instructional ApproachesStudents at Harper High School will be introduced to the topic of healthy eating and the food desert crisis through classroom discussion at the beginning of class, which will encourage students to share their personal beliefs on what it means to live and eat healthy. Throughout the discussion, students will be asked several questions that encourages them to evaluate their own food decisions and how it affects them. Through the use of hands-on on activities and personal experiences, students will gain further knowledge on healthy eating and the food desert crisis.                    

Critical Vocabulary TermsFood desertNutritionVitaminsMineralsProteinCarbohydratesTrans Fat (Unsaturated)Saturated FatCholesterolSodiumCaloriesProcessed FoodsUrban SprawlSegregationSuburbs Industrial Agriculture (Factory Farming)Big Box Retailers ProducersConsumersPhotosynthesisChlorophyll OxygenCarbon Dioxide Water Glucose Reactants Products Community Garden               

Important Supplies / ResourcesGardening toolsSeedsNotebooks  

Biology lab materials Posters             

Other Modes of Learning (field trips, speakers, etc.)Field trip to nearby community farm (Wood Street Urban Farm site)

Like a guest speaker from Growing Home: http://growinghomeinc.org/learn-more/transitional-employment/          

Copyright © 2012 by Chicago Grassroots Curriculum Taskforce