Year 6 - Geography
Changes in the foods we eat
Farms and factories: where does our food come from?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit explores how food is produced and distributed, both locally and globally. Pupils investigate where different foods come from, how diets are changing, and what environmental and social factors shape food production and supply.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe how food production, processing and distribution has changed over time and identify potential positive and negative impacts of these changes.
Key Notes
- The foods routinely available in the UK have numerous places of origin around the world; many are imported.
- Contemporary food production, processing and distribution systems are much more complex than those of the past.
- There are potential positive and negative impacts of contemporary food production, processing and distribution systems.
Vocabulary To Learn
- place of origin: The place of origin is the place where something first comes from
- imported: Goods that are imported are brought in from another country
- greenhouse gas emissions: Greenhouse gas emissions are gases that are released and trap heat in Earth's atmosphere
- in season: In season means the time of year when a food is naturally ready for harvesting
- processing: Processing means making changes to a food's natural state. An example is cooking beans in a tomato sauce and preserving them in tins
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Limited understanding of the difference between unprocessed and processed or ultra-processed foods.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this geography topic using two clear key points.
The foods routinely available in the UK have numerous places of origin around the world; many are imported. Contemporary food production, processing and distribution systems are much more complex than those of the past.
2. Define this geography term and use it in an example. 'place of origin'
The place of origin is the place where something first comes from.
3. Correct this common geography misunderstanding.
Mistake: Limited understanding of the difference between unprocessed and processed or ultra-processed foods. Correction: Sort some different foods into categories according to their level of processing.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 6 Geography guide library.