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Year 5 - Geography

Tackling food waste

Sustainable world: does it matter how we live?

Unit Summary

This unit introduces sustainability by exploring how human choices affect the environment. Pupils learn about energy use, food waste, biodiversity and urban living, and consider how individuals and communities can work towards a more sustainable future.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain which foods have the highest carbon footprint and suggest choices that can lower this.

Key Notes

  • Food production is responsible for about one-quarter of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.
  • The highest carbon footprint per kilogram of food product comes from meat: beef, lamb then dairy top the list.
  • Most food travels by boat not air.
  • Wasting less food and lowering demand reduces carbon emissions.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • emissions: An emission is something that is released into the world. An example is the release of carbon dioxide when we breathe out.
  • carbon footprint: A carbon footprint is a measure of the total amount of greenhouses gases that are released as a result of our actions.
  • food miles: Food miles measure the distance between where a food is grown or made to where it is eaten.
  • greenhouse gas: Greenhouse gases are gases in Earth's atmosphere that trap heat.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Children might be under the impression that all agricultural crops are grown for human consumption.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this geography topic using two clear key points.

Food production is responsible for about one-quarter of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. The highest carbon footprint per kilogram of food product comes from meat: beef, lamb then dairy top the list.

2. Define this geography term and use it in an example. 'emissions'

An emission is something that is released into the world. An example is the release of carbon dioxide when we breathe out.

3. Correct this common geography misunderstanding.

Mistake: Children might be under the impression that all agricultural crops are grown for human consumption. Correction: In fact the vast majority of European cereal crop production is used to feed animals (and create biofuels, rather than feeding people.

More Lessons In This Unit

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