Duration and setting: 1 - 1.5 hours in the classroom or outdoors.

Summary

This activity enables students to understand the processes involved in linking the dairy, meat, fruit, fisheries, forestry, grain and wool industries from the paddock to the plate.

Student outcomes

This activity will enable students to:

• Investigate food and fibre production chains from paddock to plate
• Consider the impact of a number of factors on these supply chains
• Learn about some of the careers available in food and fibre production.

Background notes for teachers

Much of the food we eat and the clothes we wear are produced from agriculture. The dairy, meat, fruit, vegetable, grain and wool industries in Victoria are important sources of food and fibre. This activity allows students to investigate the processes involved in these supply chains. The example given here is of the dairy industry. To download the information and cards required for the other industries go to LandLearn website: www.landlearn.net.au > curriculum activities > for classroom use > food & food production.

Materials

• A4 Farm Web Cards laminated to enable multiple use. Thumbnail examples of the fisheries and dairy cards are provided in this activity and can be downloaded from the LandLearn website: www.landlearn.net.au > curriculum activities > for classroom use > food & food production
• String or wool (allow one ball per industry investigated)

The activity

1. To begin this activity, discuss with students the different types of food and fibre they consume daily. Make a list of these on the board and identify which industry each of these comes from (for example dairy, fruit, vegetable, meat, wool, grain, forestry, fisheries).
2. Discuss with the class the different processes involved in getting food from the farm to the table using the fisheries industry cards as an example. Ask students to put the cards in order from table to farm (Answer: Seafood, Fish monger, Fish processor, Fisher farmer, Fish).

next» Linking the Paddock to the Plate Part 2