Food Systems (6th Grade)
Provided by: Ten Strands|Published on: August 1, 2025|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6
Type: Lesson Plans
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: Seeds to Solutions, Ten Strands
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This Seeds to Solutions Grade 6 unit from Ten Strands and the San Mateo County Office of Education engages students in a ten-lesson exploration of how climate change impacts our food system, beginning with food shortage investigations and ending with adaptive solutions like seed saving.
- The curriculum blends science, social science, and equity considerations as students examine causes and effects of climate-related food challenges, culminating in a collaborative final explanatory model and an action plan to improve resilience in their own school or community food systems.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- Activities like the Food System Charades in Lesson 5 will get students moving and engaged in this exploration.
- The case studies of students affecting change in their schools will inspire and empower students as they read.
Prerequisites
- When creating plans for action in Lessons 9 and 10, teachers may want to bring a food service staff member to act as a consultant, or consult them ahead of time.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Teachers should note that there are accessible materials designed for students using text-to-speech assistive technology.
- In Lesson 2, as students learn about climate change, teachers may want to incorporate this resource to help students identify and process emotions that arise.
- Teachers should refer to the Teacher Background Information in Lesson 4 for tips on how to group students by ability for the jigsaw reading activity.
- In Lesson 7, as students listen to the podcasts, teachers can give students copies of the transcripts to take notes, write questions, and highlight important parts.
- Science teachers can collaborate with health teachers, having them precede Lesson 8 with a lesson or discussion about nutrition.
This unit guides students in understanding the links between food systems and climate. The basic science of climate change is clearly presented. The unit features a nuanced analysis, detailing how agriculture is impacted by and contributes to climate change. This resource is clear, well-sourced, and is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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