The palm oil dilemma
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can analyse the environmental and social consequences of palm oil production and explore sustainable alternatives.
Key learning points
- Palm oil is sourced from the fruit of the oil palm tree.
- An area of rainforest, nearly the size of Greater London, has been wiped out in under a decade for oil palm plantations.
- Plantations are less dense and less diverse.
- Oil palm plantations are associated with the loss of forest for indigenous communities, forced labour and child labour.
- Experts recommend supporting certified sustainable palm oil, as it is the most land-efficient oil crop.
Keywords
Palm oil - edible oil from the fruit of oil palm trees
Deforestation - the complete removal of trees
Biodiversity - the variety of living things in an ecosystem or area
Common misconception
Boycotting palm oil helps stop deforestation.
Experts recommend supporting certified sustainable palm oil, as palm oil is the most land-efficient oil crop. Replacing it with less efficient crops like sunflowers could cause more deforestation.
Teacher tip
You could ask students to get any food/product packets out that they have in their bag and to see if you can find palm oil in the classroom.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these is a natural resource?
Q2.Which is a non-renewable resource?
Q3.Which is not a renewable resource?
Q4.What is meant by a renewable resource?
Q5.Why might natural resources run out?
Q6.Which of these comes from a renewable source?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the keyword to its definition:
Edible oil from oil palm fruit
The complete removal of trees
Variety of living things in an area
Q2.Why has rainforest been cleared in parts of the world?
Q3.What is a problem with oil palm plantations?
Q4.Why do experts recommend certified sustainable palm oil instead of a full ban?
To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: The palm oil dilemma, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: The palm oil dilemma, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 geography lessons from the Natural resources: Can Earth meet our needs? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.