No Food Waste Challenge

Theme: Sharing the planet

Central idea: We have the responsibility to maintain our natural resources. 

Background

The No Food Waste Challenge was curated as an interactive educational

endeavour tailored for young learners, spanning from grades 1 to 5, with the aim

of fostering a profound understanding of the consequences of food wastage and

equipping them with strategies to alleviate it. Within the framework of grade 2,

the initial phase, referred to as "tuning in," served as an engaging introduction to

the concept. Through interactive activities, discussions and presentations,

children were sensitised to the importance of reducing food waste and the

pivotal role they could play in effecting positive change. To stimulate enthusiasm

and participation, an innovative approach was adopted: the integration of bar

charts displaying overall class performance and highlighting areas of

improvement. Furthermore, the No Food Waste Challenge was designed to

transcend the confines of traditional classroom settings, permeating into the

fabric of daily life. By encouraging children to apply their newfound knowledge

and skills within their households, communities, and personal habits, the

programme sought to effectuate a paradigm shift in attitudes towards food

consumption and waste management.

Learning objectives and outcomes

The main aim was to educate students about the importance of reducing food

waste. Potential outcomes included understanding environmental impact,

developing the importance of communication between parents and learners

about how much food they need to eat to be healthy, and fostering gratitude for

having (more than) enough food to eat. This challenge represented an excellent

opportunity for Grade 2 learners to focus not only on writing skills as they

explained the reasons behind our challenge and gave out the important details

of the event (when, where, the rules, et. cetera) on a poster. They also shared

some information they had learned about food waste. They practiced

presentation skills as each class presented to other grade levels in groups. In

addition, there was also a chance to work on the approaches to learning,

specifically research/social skills. Also, learners practiced being Communicators,

Caring, and Reflective using the Learner Profile. More outcomes include

spreading awareness to the issue and ultimately, bringing out action with our

learners leading and inspiring the entire PYP to reduce their food waste and

reflect about the process. We hope this issue continues to be on the minds of PYP

and create sustainable habits to continue reducing food waste all the time, not

just during our special event.

Application

The students demonstrated precision and enthusiasm as they meticulously

weighed the discarded food, ensuring accurate data by carefully reading the

scale. Every sandwich crust and leftover vegetable was accounted for,

transforming what could have been considered scraps into valuable learning

experiences. Their journey didn't end there. Sorting through their collected data,

these young mathematicians encountered a new challenge: delving into the

world of graphs. Guided by their teachers, they delved into creating bar graphs,

a tool that would become essential in their future mathematical pursuits. The

room filled with pride and accomplishment as they charted their results. These

Grade 2 students not only reduced food waste but also sharpened their math

skills. Each measurement and graph they created laid the groundwork for a

deeper understanding of mathematics and its real-world applications. Through

the PYP No Food Waste Challenge, these students discovered how education can

drive positive change in their community. Anticipating their next math lesson as

well as their independent inquiry project, they gained a newfound appreciation

for applying their learning beyond the classroom, realizing the practical impact

of their education.