Food Waste Curriculum

This page contains Food Waste Educational Units developed for The Nature of Teaching program. Each unit contains one or more lesson plans that meet Common Core English/Language Arts, Math, and Next Generation Science Standards. Many lessons are currently in Indiana Academic Standards. Most lessons are K-5, but some include middle school and high school standards, and many can be scaled up. 

Aerial view of farmland, Food Waste and Natural Resources, Nature of Teaching.
Food Waste & Natural Resources

This unit contains two lessons which cover how land and water resources are used to produce food.

Truck in landfill, Food Waste & the Environment, Nature of Teaching.
Food Waste & The Environment

This unit contains three lesson plans that will teach students how food waste affects water, climate change, and wildlife.

Rotten apples, What a Waste of Food, Nature of Teaching.
What a Waste of Food!

This unit contains three lesson plans that will teach students how to reduce food waste by learning more about proper food storage, best-by dates, and ugly foods.

Aerial view of farmland, Food Waste and Natural Resources, Nature of Teaching.
Food Waste & Natural Resources

This unit contains two lessons which cover how land and water resources are used to produce food.

Truck in landfill, Food Waste & the Environment, Nature of Teaching.
Food Waste & The Environment

This unit contains three lesson plans that will teach students how food waste affects water, climate change, and wildlife.

Rotten apples, What a Waste of Food, Nature of Teaching.
What a Waste of Food!

This unit contains three lesson plans that will teach students how to reduce food waste by learning more about proper food storage, best-by dates, and ugly foods.

Aerial view of farmland, Food Waste Solutions, Nature of Teaching.
Food Waste Solutions

This lesson teaches students how reduce food waste at home and school through fun hands-on activities and discussion.

Food in boxes for transport, Transporting Food Waste, Nature of teaching.
Transporting Food Waste

This lesson teaches students how food transportation and food miles affect the environment. Students will learn where different foods typically come from and calculate food miles for different modes of transportation.

The Education Store, Purdue Extension's resource center, Nature of Teaching.
More Resources

The Education Store, Purdue Extension's resource center, has more Nature of Teaching curriculum with  activities and games. Use the search bar and add keywords for wildlife and natural resource educational publications and videos.

Aerial view of farmland, Food Waste Solutions, Nature of Teaching.
Food Waste Solutions

This lesson teaches students how reduce food waste at home and school through fun hands-on activities and discussion.

Food in boxes for transport, Transporting Food Waste, Nature of teaching.
Transporting Food Waste

This lesson teaches students how food transportation and food miles affect the environment. Students will learn where different foods typically come from and calculate food miles for different modes of transportation.

The Education Store, Purdue Extension's resource center, Nature of Teaching.
More Resources

The Education Store, Purdue Extension's resource center, has more Nature of Teaching curriculum with  activities and games. Use the search bar and add keywords for wildlife and natural resource educational publications and videos.