Teacher's Introduction

WHO: Teachers all over the world who would like to introduce their students to the problems of hunger and malnutrition can use and adapt the Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger materials and model lesson plans.

WHAT: The Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger lessons have been developed as a starting point for teachers to introduce the topic of world hunger to their students. Given the wide variety of problems, cultures and environments around the world, the lessons have been prepared as a framework for teachers, with the understanding that teachers will need to tailor the scope, language, discussions and activities provided for each lesson to fit their students and local conditions. All levels cover the topics of What are hunger and malnutrition, and who are the hungry? Why are people hungry and malnourished? and What can we do to help end hunger? Each lesson contains Objectives, Concepts and Activities to engage your students in a discussion about these serious and persistent problems.

Three lessons are provided for each of three school levels: primary, intermediate, and secondary. The lessons have been directed towards the middle of the developmental skills range for each level. As grade levels and student ages are definied differently around the world, teachers will need to examine the lessons and select the materials that best match their students' level of cognitive development, making modifications as necessary.

WHEN: On World Food Day, 16 October - and throughout the year - students all over the world can use these lessons to gain a better understanding of hunger and malnutrition. Teachers can then submit lessons generated in their specific classes for use by other teachers around the world on subsequent World Food Days. New ideas, activities and lessons from around the world will be collected and distributed each year.

WHERE: In your classroom and in thousands of others around the world at the same time.

WHY: Our vision is a world where every person has access to enough food to live a healthy and productive life and where malnutrition is absent. We see education and information on issues related to world hunger, food security and nutrition as key for making this global vision a reality. The aim is to create a global classroom in which children and youth everywhere study and discuss the same issues, with the hope of preparing and stimulating them to participate in activities to create a world free from hunger.

HOW: You are encouraged to copy and use these materials in this booklet throughout the school year, adapting the lessons to fit the particular circumstances of your students and your classroom facilities. Lessons that are adapted and developed locally to meet local problems, interests and culture are usually most effective. Locally developed lessons and materials can then be used to help each community address its own particular problems. The model lessons are designed to be covered in three classes of approximately 45 minutes each, but they can be covered in greater or less detail, as you wish, to fit the needs of your class. Background information is provided for you to use either for yourself or for your students, as you feel appropriate. Each lesson contains suggested activities and discussion points which you can use as presented or as a base to create your own class activities on each topic.

As teachers around the world see what works best in various cultures and environments, and begin to adapt these lessons accordingly, a series of relevant and compelling teaching tools and activities on the topic of world hunger will be created. We would like to hear your comments on these lessons and would especially like you to share any adaptations you have made. This will help us improve the program year after year. You are also encouraged to submit lessons or results from your classes that can be shared around the world for this project on next year's World Food Day (it's always on October 16!)

We thank you for being part of the solution.