Educational Resource Guide Table of Contents
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Our experience of the last year EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE ................. 3 DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT ................. 4 FOOD EVOLUTION EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH COALITION .................. 6 ABOUT THE FILM .........................7 FOOD FOR THOUGHT: AN OVERVIEW OF KEY THEMES ........... 8 HOSTING A CLASSROOM OR CAMPUS VIEWING OF FOOD EVOLUTION ........... 16 SCREENING GUIDELINES .................... 18 CLASSROOM MINI UNIT ....................24 STUDENT HANDOUTS .....................44 QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION .....50 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES .................53 ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS ..................54 ABOUT IFT ............................ 56 2 FOOD EVOLUTION HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE BRINGING FOOD EVOLUTION INTO THE CLASSROOM his Educational Resource Guide was Additionally, the Screening Guidelines section created with educators in mind and can be provides activities that can be performed in used in a variety of ways in the classroom, a group or individually before watching the T film, while watching it, and afterwards, to as well as in more informal educational settings like community screenings, farmers markets, provide an opportunity for analysis and making connections. The subsequent lesson plan workshops, after-school programs, community provides teachers with specific procedures that education programs, or training sessions. drill down into some of the important themes and topics that the film presents, making The history, implications, problems, and connections to national curriculum standards potential solutions surrounding food in a variety of courses, formatted for classroom sustainability, agricultural technology, organic use. And because one of the main messages of farming, corporate greed, climate change the film is the importance of activism, there is a and the environment, the international comprehensive section of social action project economy, and global hunger are complex prompts that provide educators and students and nuanced and have been studied, written opportunities to deepen their exploration of about, and explored by many academics, the topics that the film and this guide raise policy makers, and experts alike. This guide and turn their understanding into action—both does NOT endeavor to do the same; rather, locally and nationally. we hope to shed a new light on how these issues afect individuals and communities by By learning more about the issues raised in learning about them through the lens of critical this film, and perhaps more importantly, the thinking and the everyday application of the significance of critical thinking, analyzing scientific method. Because the stories and information as we consume it, and the themes explored in the film cannot be fully application of the scientific method in everyday understood without context, some abridged life, we hope to foster productive dialogues background information is included—but more around the country that can lead to real and comprehensive background information can sustainable change. be found by exploring the organizations and websites listed in the Additional Resources section of this guide. “ FOOD EVOLUTION makes some fascinating points about human behavior … about how we don’t make decisions based on facts as often as we think we do. This documentary may not change your mind, but it will make you consider what caused you to decide in the first place.” —Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times FOOD EVOLUTION 3 DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT FROM SCOTT HAMILTON KENNEDY IS FOOD EVOLUTION While on first glance I can see why some people might call “PRO-GMO” OR FOOD EVOLUTION a “pro-GMO” film, if you look a bit deeper, the GMO controversy is a metaphor for the importance of using “PRO-SCIENCE”? the scientific method to make informed decisions. Or as our esteemed narrator Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson put it “WHEN RESULTS ARE at our world premiere in New York City: REPEATED AND FOUND TO BE TRUE, THAT IS SCIENTIFIC TRUTH.” “ LAWS SHOULD BE BASED ON TRUTH.” “…OR THAT IS THE END OF AN INFORMED DEMOCRACY.” PHOTOS: MARGARITA CORPORAN, BLACK VALLEY FILMS THE RESPONSE TO THE FILM HAS BEEN AMAZING. Following FOOD EVOLUTION’s from cautious or fearful about theatrical release in the summer GMOs to, thanks to the science of 2017, the critical response and data presented in the has been incredible, including film, informed not only about receiving and maintaining 100% GMOs, but about how to use on Rotten Tomatoes. And at the scientific method to make hundreds of screenings around decisions in all aspects of our the world, we have seen the lives. film’s power to change minds 4 FOOD EVOLUTION “ I am happy to see the huge interest in “ I applaud the today’s showing of FOOD EVOLUTION. makers of this film It shows that the topic of biotechnology for taking the time is an important one, and we are promoting to examine the a constructive dialogue on this topic in multiple arguments the European Parliament. within this debate. This is a good film, When it comes to the GMO debate, an extraordinary problems arise when value systems film, and I’m proud are confused with facts and political that it’s being decisions are dressed up as science based shown right here when they are not. Questioning the safety in our nation’s of GMOs is like denying climate change. capital.” If policy makers rely more on alternative END OF AN —SENATOR PAT ROBERTS, facts than science, it makes our mission .” Chairman of the U.S. even more challenging.” Senate Committee on Agriculture, —Jens Gieseke, Nutrition and Forestry, Member of the European Capitol Hill screening Parliament from Germany THE RESPONSE FROM SCIENTISTS AND POLICYMAKERS HAS BEEN JUST AS STRONG. We have had the honor of And we are happy to say that the screening FOOD EVOLUTION impact of FOOD EVOLUTION at the National Academy is growing as we reach more of Sciences, Capitol Hill, communities around the world. the European Parliament in We are especially excited Belgium, the U.S. Mission about the educational front, to the United Nations Food connecting the film with students and Agriculture Organization from 6th grade through to college Director Scott Hamilton in Rome, and many more and university postgraduates. Kennedy presenting FOOD prestigious settings. We invite you to participate in EVOLUTION to the FAO in Rome. this important conversation. PHOTO: ALISON VAN EENENNAAM FOOD EVOLUTION 5 FOOD EVOLUTION EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH COALITION GALVANIZING THE COMMUNITY AROUND FOOD EVOLUTION n today’s “post-truth” society, it is more crucial high-school, and college students—and than ever that each of us become informed communities at large—to use the scientific consumers of information. If each of us—from method to guide their decision-making. I This guide, which serves as the curricular parents to politicians—fails to use science and data to help us curb our biases and get outside cornerstone of the Educational Outreach Coalition, is meant to mobilize stakeholders in of our bubbles, then, to quote Mark Lynas the educational community and in communities from the film, all public dialogue will become at large to think diferently about how they simply “an amorphous blob of competing world consume information, how they interact views.” The most efective way to interrupt this with evidence, and how these processes disintegration of public discourse is to enable feed into how we look to solve the problems educators and students to rethink the way they that face us as a global community—such as approach questions and the way they search for climate change, food sustainability, and the answers. Since its theatrical release in June 2017, management of public discourse. To meet FOOD EVOLUTION has been shifting hearts and these objectives, we are organizing screenings, minds across the globe. professional development opportunities, and other programs for communities and schools The FOOD EVOLUTION Educational Outreach around the country. Coalition strives to inspire middle-school, For more information on this coalition, including how to host a screening, go to www.foodevolutionmovie.com/host-a-screening/ or [email protected] 6 FOOD EVOLUTION ABOUT THE FILM OOD EVOLUTION is set amidst a brutally polarized “With a soft tone, debate marked by fear, distrust, and confusion: the respectful to opponents F controversy surrounding GMOs. Academy Award® but insistent on the nominated director Scott Hamilton Kennedy travels data, FOOD EVOLUTION from Hawaiian papaya groves to Ugandan banana farms to cornfields in Iowa, documenting how agricultural posits an inconvenient technology can be used in such varied crop settings. truth for organic boosters to swallow: In FOOD EVOLUTION looks at one of the most critical a world desperate for questions facing the world today—that of food security— safe, sustainable food, and demonstrates the desperate need for common sense, solid information, and calm logical deliberation. Using the G.M.O.s may well be a often angry and emotional controversy over genetically force for good.” modified foods as its entry point, the film shows how —Daniel Gold, easily fear and misinformation can overwhelm objective, New York Times evidence-based analysis. FOOD EVOLUTION takes the position that science and scientists hold the key to solving the food crisis. But whose science? In the GMO debate, both sides claim science is on their side. Who’s right? How do we figure this out? What does this mean for the larger issues of food security, sustainability, and environmental well- being? FOOD EVOLUTION seeks to answer these critically