New Unit – Food, Inc.
In this unit, students will do a Multimedia project, read Omnivore’s Dilemma, watch the documentary “Food, Inc” and will be learning:
*Where food comes from (farm to table)
*Eating habits and food traditions from other countries
*Local vs Industrial
*Nutrition (healthy vs unhealthy)
*Impact & Balance of their own food choices
*Plus much more, including getting ready for their Internships in March!
This is our 4th unit, which means expectations and workload continues to ramp up. Please make sure your student has time at home, every day, to work (and learn)!
Humanities:
Humanities:
- Vocabulary Assignment #1: due on Wednesday
- Writing Assignment #1 (2 parts): Part 1: Complete handout ‘Corn from A to Z’. Part 2: Design a digital poster, video, presentation, brochure, or other informational piece that illustrates the prevalence of corn and soybeans in American diets; due Friday
- Current Events Assignments #1: find an article, then write summary; due Friday
- Reading & Reflections (Literature book The Omnivore’s Dilemma); due Friday
- MobyMax Language: 30 minutes; due Fridays
- CommonLit: “Genetically Modified Salmon”; due Friday
- Vocabulary & Literature Quizzes: Fridays
- RJW #3 (based on nonfiction book); due Thursday
- Writer’s Workshop – work on portfolio and reflections
- Passion Project – researching and working through requirements
- In class instructions & possible additional assignments
Math:
- Math Homework (CPM/Other) – every day
- MobyMax and/or Khan: 45 minutes a week, due on Mondays
- Fact Fluency: 20 minutes a week (until tested out), due on Fridays
- Fridays: math quizzes
- In class instructions & possible additional assignments
Food, Inc Project (see below for your student’s group & topic). This is a good unit for you to have conversations about school with your student. If you are not already doing this, invite your student into the kitchen with you and: talk about family food traditions, include them in meal planning/shopping, and as always ask them what they are learning in school! Head’s up – they will be exposed to the practices of Industrial farming/ranching in this unit, so make sure you have a listening ear so they can process what they are learning.
Science: Intro to Nutrition (labs, journaling, lectures)
EE – Big Break
- This Friday, January 10th – EE Program at Big Break from 9:45~12pm Group A: Jason, Reagan, Emily, Rossy, Leia, Hailey, Asya, Jeremy, Noah, Zion, Cassidy, Adrian, Grace S, Kianna. Drivers: Ms. Claflin, and ??????
- Thank you for everyone who has signed up to drive. We still need drivers for future dates! Please go to SignUp Genius, look to see which dates your student is attending, and if you see an open spot, please sign up! If we don’t have drivers, we can’t take the students! https://www.
signupgenius.com/go/ 20f0f45a4aa28a1fe3-bigbreak
Other Important Information
January 30th – Study Trip: On Thursday, January 30th from 8:15~2:30pm, we will be exploring the “Gourmet Ghetto” in Berkeley. This trip is to expose the students to restaurants which promote local and sustainable food models. We need drivers for this trip! Because of size limitations & cost, we are limited in the amount of chaperones we can take. If you are interested in driving (and can take a minimum of 4 students), please email us. The cost for chaperones is $20. If we get more parents interested then we can take, we will do a lottery. This trip will involve walking.
Food, Inc Project Groups
| Food, Inc Groups | Topic |
| ASYA, CHRISTIAN, JAEGER | FAST FOOD INDUSTRY |
| LUIS, ADRIAN, AARON | SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAMS |
| JEREMY, NOAH, CARTER | GENETIC ENGINEERING |
| CHLOE, JACKSON, ROSSY | EATING DISORDERS |
| APPLE, HAILEY, GRACIE | FACTORY FARMING INDUSTRY (CHICKENS, DUCKS, CATTLE) |
| LEIA, FRANKIE, KIANNA | ORGANIC INDUSTRY (INCLUDE LAWS & LABELING) |
| ADRIANNA, MARYAM, JAE’LA | FOOD ALLERGIES |
| ATTICUS, ZION, JASON | FACTORY FARMING INDUSTRY (HOGS, LAMBS, TURKEYS) |
| HAYLEE, FERA, MANVI | ALTERNATIVE EATING (VEGAN, VEGETARIAN, etc) |
| GAGE, CALVIN, ABIGAIL | FOODBORNE ILLNESSES & FOOD HANDLING SAFETY (E COLI, SALMONELLA, etc.) |
| REAGAN, MADI, GABBY | WEIGHT LOSS INDUSTRY |
| EMILY, ISMAEL, ZAIRE | SEAFOOD INDUSTRY (FARM VS WILD, MERCURY, SUSTAINABILITY) |
| PEYTON, CHRISTOPHER, CASSIDY | AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS (FERTILIZERS, PESTICIDES, HERBICIDES) |
| LAILA, GRACE, SARAH | CHILDHOOD OBESITY (EFFECTS) vs HUNGER |