Discovery

Food for Thought Kit

Greg Walker

There is a great demand for science resources in schools that are written for or can be used in the integrating strand Making Sense of the Nature of Science and Technology, and here we have a good example of such a resource.

Using the context of food, this kit aims to provide a comprehensive and integrated introduction into a range of biological and chemical concepts based around primary production. Those that see things chemical as nasty and horrible may see this kit as an attempt by the agricultural chemicals people to subtly justify their position; others will see it as a means of getting some informed sense into the agricultural chemical debate.

There are some useful classroom material and well-designed, straightforward activities. Students in rural areas may well be familiar with a number of the examples or contexts used. The kit makes an excellent attempt to interweave different curricula strands to help reflect the integrated nature of science, and all the activities introduce students to a number of skills and attitudes especially those relating to information handling, processing and interpreting.

The kit is divided into 14 self-sufficient units which have a series of activities along with the resource material needed to complete each. The units are designed to cover various learning objectives at Levels 4 to 6, and the exercises are well suited to students of that age. Many of the activities require some reading but nothing that is beyond the capabilities of most of those in Year 10 or Year 11. A few of the units do have practical laboratory work and some of the activities can only be done at certain times of the year and require the students to be out in the field. One of the beauties of these units is that they are simple in their design so that there is not a great deal of preparation or reading required on the part of the teacher. A bonus is the resource material for the Level 6 Living World Objective; Investigate a New Zealand example of how people apply biological principles to plant and animal management.

Teacher notes are provided and teachers are free to photocopy material for use within their schools. A copy of the kit should be in your school; if not they are available, free, from:

Agcarm Association of New Zealand PO Box 5069
Wellington
Fax 04 499 4223

If science teachers don't use them, I am sure the ag and hort people will.