Year 9 & 10 students
Australian Curriculum v9.0
Geography (AC9HG9K04): Challenges to sustainable food production and food security in Australia and appropriate management strategies.
Health and Physical Education (AC9HP10P09): Critique health information, services and media messaging about relationships, lifestyle choices, health decisions and behaviours to evaluate their influence on individual attitudes and actions.
Health and Physical Education (AC9HP10P10): Plan, justify and critique strategies to enhance their own and other’s health, safety, relationships and wellbeing.
- This lesson is designed as a flexible tool.
- Teachers can adapt and build upon as needed.
- 60-minute lesson.
- Stand alone.
- Customise to suit the classroom context.
Geography, Health and Physical Education
Sustainability, Sweet Corn, Agriculture, Food Security, Food Production, Food Waste, Marketing, AC9HG9K04, AC9HP10P09, AC9HP10P10
The Sweet Corn’s Sustainability Journey lesson explores the sustainability journey of sweet corn in Australia. It examines innovative agricultural practices, nutritional benefits, and media influences on public perceptions. Students critically evaluate farming methods, address food waste, analyse media messaging, and design a campaign to promote sweet corn as a sustainable, healthy food choice.
Lesson Objectives
- Students will compare traditional vs. sustainable corn farming methods and evaluate solutions to food waste.
- Students will design advocacy campaigns (e.g., social media, posters) promoting corn’s role in equitable food access, targeting specific audiences like school canteen staff.
- Students will explore food security strategies, such as local supply chains or reducing supermarket waste.
Key Concepts Taught
- Precision agriculture (e.g. drip irrigation, soil sensors, GPS-guided machinery).
- Climate-adaptive corn varieties and drought resilience.
- Food miles and carbon footprint awareness.
- Nutrient density and misconceptions (e.g., sugar content).
- Food waste and supermarket cosmetic standards.
- Sustainable marketing and health-based campaign communication.