Muncie resident Kelsey Timmerman has written another entertaining and insightful book about global economics and geography focusing on the theme of food — Where Am I Eating? an Adventure through the Global Food Economy. Kelsey travels to various places where our food comes from: Costa Rica for bananas, Columbia for coffee, China for apples… He visits with producers/people, processors, shippers, and more. His experiences enrich the reader’s understanding of labor around the world.
A great read together as a class or as individuals. Collaboration among Social Studies and ELA educators and Science educators would be facilitated by using this book. Incorporate ideas from Future Farmers of America or 4-H.
Discussion Questions:
- How did Kelsey overcome the difficulties of visiting foreign factories?
- Americans have often protested child labor overseas. How do these protests impact the people working in these factories? How do these protests impact the economies in these places?
- Which workers made the biggest impression on you and why?
- How had the lives of the workers Kelsey visited change?
- What is globalization? How does it affect your life?
- How can you be a more engaged citizen?
Activities:
- Students travel to the grocery store and purchase one item that indicates “where” it was grown/processed. Allof the items are brought to class. Research is conducted about the item, the place where the item is grown (see the Pizza Box Project lesson plan via the GENI Lesson Plans page, and possible recipes in which the item is utilized.
- Invite a local food producer/restaurateur/chef to the classroom to discuss local/IN food issues: positives and negatives. Discuss economics of being engaged in the food industry.
- Visit a farm or food production facility to learn about 21st Century geospatial technology practices AND to discuss “modern” ethical food practices.