Global patterns of food security
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe inequalities in global food security and explain the impacts of food insecurity on people, economies and the environment.
Key learning points
- Globally, there are areas of food surplus (security) and food deficit (insecurity).
- There are global inequalities in food supply and calorie intake.
- 30% of the global population is affected by moderate or severe food insecurity.
- Impacts of food insecurity include famine, undernutrition, soil erosion, rising prices and social unrest.
Keywords
Food security - when people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life
Food insecurity - being without reliable access to sufficient, affordable, nutritious food
Famine - a widespread, serious shortage of food; in the worst cases leading to starvation and death
Undernutrition - when people do not consume enough nutrients to cover their needs for energy and growth, or to maintain a healthy immune system
Common misconception
Most people around the world are food insecure.
Thirty per cent are food insecure, meaning 70% experience food security. (Food security for all remains a UN target for 2030 and a key priority for governments around the world.)
Teacher tip
Dollar Street is particularly useful for this lesson about global patterns and the next which builds on ideas about how and why consumption is linked to access (specifically income). Allowing students time (with technology) to explore the site is invaluable: a picture paints a thousand words.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their correct definitions.
Q2.Which of these is a basic resource people need to survive?
Q3.Which of these is an example of a country with high food supply?
Q4.How can a lack of clean water affect a country?
Q5.What is one reason why some countries use more energy than others?
Q6.Which of these areas is likely to face resource scarcity?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match each term with the correct definition.
Q2.Which of these statements is most accurate?
Q3.What does undernutrition affect most directly?
Q4.Which country is least likely to experience food insecurity?
Q5.Which group is most vulnerable to food insecurity?
Q6.A is a very serious shortage of food across a wide area.
To help you plan your 11 geography lesson on: Global patterns of food security, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 geography lesson on: Global patterns of food security, 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 4 geography lessons from the Global pattern of food resources unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.