HOW ONE TEACHER INTRODUCED HUNGER ISSUES TO HER 7TH GRADE CLASS
Letter from Susan Layne - Teacher, Bedford, Virginia , 1981

"Last year I taught a unit on hunger and Third world countries at Thanksgiving time. On our hall bulletin board I placed a picture of hungry children with the caption. As you feast on Thanksgiving turkey, remember.

"I began my classroom unit by giving each of my students a newspaper grocery ad. and then told then they had to plan a meal for 13 cents. My students became angry and quite frustrated. Then I told them that Third World families live on that food budget every day.  I then distributed a number of folders, magazines, etc., that gave facts about ' hunger.  Each student had to give an oral report on what they learned.

"Students can make a collage showing pictures of hunger. Or they can draw a garbage can and show pictures of all the food they throw away each day.  In math, students can keep a record of all they eat. figuring out the cost for a day's food.  With the principal's okay, students night skip lunch (or a part of lunch) for a day and donate the money saved to a world hunger organization.

"...Of all the units I taught last year, the one on world hunger had the most impact."

Some activities to try:

Read fairy tales to young children to introduce them to ideas of hunger and over-consumption.  Why did Hansel and Gretel have to leave home?  What happened when Peter Rabbit ate too much in Mr. McGregor’s garden?