009 - Malnutrition (Optional Lesson)
Factual Question
What is malnutrition?
Debatable Question
Agriculture has been called 'the worst mistake in the history of the human race' (Diamond, 1987)
Key Terminology
Malnutrition
Calorie Intake
Indicator
Define the key terms above using the 'Useful Links' below.
Useful Links
Activity One - Draw and Discuss
We all have an idea of what someone who is malnourished looks like and why they may be that way. The adverts on TV are awash with campaigns to support different feeding programmes. What is your perception of this stereotype?
On A4 paper or a small white board draw a picture of someone who is malnourished.
When complete show the boards/paper to your neighbours and discuss the similarities and differences between them. Write the similarities and differences down in your book.
Activity Two - Interpretation
We are now going to compare and contrast the different diets of people around the world by interrogating various images.
Describe the average food intake for a family in a MEDC, NIC and LEDC over a month using the images below. All images were taken from http://www.zo.utexas.edu/ and for more click on the link - Images
Explain why the differences may have occurred in the images you have chosen to describe.
Is malnutrition or undernourishment a ´poor´ issue? Use the graph below as a prompt.
Image One
Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide. Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07
Image Two
United States: The Revis family of North Carolina. Food expenditure for one week: $341.98
Image Three
Mexico: The Casales family of Cuernavaca.
Food expenditure for one week: 1, 862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09
Image Four
Egypt: The Ahmed family of Cairo. Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53
Image Five
Bhutan: The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village. Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03
Image Six
Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp. Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23
Activity Three - Skill
As you are now well aware good geographers need to be able to describe maps well. The one below clearly uses colour to help distinguish a pattern of what is happening. Answer the following questions but remember to answer in full sentences.
Describe the map below.
Can calorie intake be an indicator of wealth? Why?
Image Seven - % of Population who are undernourished
Activity Four - Watch
As we now know malnourishment may not be just because people do not have access to food it can be due to the poor choices that we make when at the supermarket.
How can lifestyle choices impact the food you eat? Watch the YouTube clip below before you make any decisions.
We will discuss your ideas as a group.
Activity Five - Comprehension and Design
We are now going to raise the awareness of malnourishment within a country of your choice. You can choose any country in the world but you may want to use the 'Food and Agricultural Organisation' information to help you to do this. The key to the poster is to use key data and to share a simple message about the issue.
Read the article by the WHO and discuss the problems that can be caused by malnutrition? The focus is on society and not just health.
Design a poster to raise the awareness of malnourishment within one country.
Requirements for the poster
Keep it simple
Use specific facts to illustrate your points
A4 in size
Useful Resources
The Food and Agriculture Organisation website will be able to help with country specific data- www.fao.org