Quick Plan #2-Solutions for Historical Food Issues

Section I- Description of the Method

1. Instructional Method- Cooperative Learning:
This method will be utilized often in class as it touches on multiple
learning styles and builds 21st century skills. This method would be helps
build understanding among students and helps them share their ideas
and get their voices heard.
2. Topic and Rationale- Solutions for Historical Food Issues
I would teach this topic using cooperative learning so that students can
use each other as resources to sort through social issues, share ideas, and
develop new understandings of historical as well as present day issues. I
would utilize this model with many other lessons. Cooperative learning
would be a great model to use while having a discussion on the Civil
Rights Movement or the American Revolution.
3. Features and Purposes- Cooperative Learning (Solutions for Food Issues)
The principle purposes of this method are to create a dialogue and
interaction among students. Help students come to their own
understanding through exploring a topic together. Students create their
own understanding and work together building necessary life skills while
learning content.
4. Advantages and Disadvantages- Cooperative Learning
This method does have some drawbacks. It may be easy for certain
students to become distracted when working with a group. The loose
structure of the cooperative learning model may be hard to handle for
some students. This model also runs the risk of certain students not
participating, forcing other students to pick up the slack. The advantages
are it can be incredibly engaging and promote greater retention of
knowledge as it touches on many learning styles and provides a unique
way to grasp a topic. It also gives students responsibility and teaches
them 21st century skills that they will need for the rest of their lives.
Allowing students to create their own understandings and collaborate
with others prepares them for their futures.
Section II- Implementation of Method
1. Learning Objectives- Students will be able to cooperatively create and be
a part of solutions for local issues surrounding health by examining the
past and participating in a service learning project in their community.

2. Materials- Students will need their ability to work well with others and
think critically. Additional materials will vary depending upon the
service learning project students choose.
3. The Model- The model of teaching for this lesson is Cooperative Learning.
This model was chosen because it allows students to work collaboratively
and form their own understandings and learning. It touches on multiple
learning styles and promotes responsibility and accountability for
students. Gives them authority and ownership over their learning.
4. Key Terms/Concepts- For this lesson key terms include, poverty, dust
bowl, potato famine, factory farming, disparity, degradation, equality,
service learning, cooperative learning, and social justice.
5. Background Knowledge- Students must know that everyone does not live
the same lifestyle and life presents different challenges to different
people. Students must understand that a healthy lifestyle is hard to
maintain when one is living in poverty. Students must understand
current health concerns for citizens of the United States.
6. Assessment- Students will be assessed by their participation in a service
learning project as well as a peer evaluation based on their input and
involvement in the cooperative learning process.