Food on Our Plate

People · Planet · Place – One Page Overview (Year 7)

Time: 50 minutes | Resources: Paper plate and pens only

Purpose: To help students discover that food comes from systems, not just shops, by exploring People, Planet and Place through a familiar food such as pizza.

Learning Outcomes

• Recognise that many people are involved in producing food
 • Understand that food depends on natural resources
 • Explore how food connects places near and far
 • Develop curiosity and systems thinking skills

Lesson Flow

1. Starter (5 mins): "My food comes from the supermarket?"
 2. Draw Food (5 mins): Draw a familiar meal.
 3. People (10 mins): Add 1–2 people involved.
 4. Planet (10 mins): Add one resource (water, soil or energy).
 5. Place (10 mins): Add an arrow and label near, far or many places.
 6. Pressure (5 mins): Add up to two marks where the system is working hard.
 7. Reflection (5 mins): What surprised you most?

Key Prompts

People: Who helped make this food?
 Planet: What does the Earth give this food?
 Place: Is it near, far, or many places?
 Reflection: What surprised you?

Impact

Students begin to see food as a connected system involving people, natural resources and places. The activity provides an accessible introduction to systems thinking and Doughnut Economics.