Ideas on Service Learning Project

What Are Critical Attributes? 

Critical Attributes can be implemented in teaching these topics and issues (such as GMO issues) to students. Identifying and teaching critical attributes will focus on identifying essential ideas of a concept and will help in regards to teaching a subject without interjecting our own opinions, beliefs, or ideas.  On page 42 of Teaching Elementary Social Studies, James A. Duplass puts it well: “Teaching children to distinguish the noncritical and critical attributes is a systematic strategy that leads to the most accurate conceptualization and sound decision making.”

As teachers, it is important we understand this so we can “enculurate” our students rather than “indoctrinate” them. It is important that students can understand both sides of an issue as well as the raw facts before they can take action or understand something to the fullest. Systematically and rationally analyzing concepts allow new information to be synthesized correctly without bias.  

Critical Attributes of GMO’s and Alternatives to GMO’s: 

Definitions: 

-Genetically Modified Organic

-Genetically modified foods

-Agriculture  

      -Large scale (corporate) 

      -Small scale (local) 

-Organic Food

-Local Food

-Conventional Food

-Pros and Cons of GMO’s vs. Local Foods vs. Organic Food

• Our topic of organic and genetically modified foods can be broken into procedural and informational knowledge. The informational knowledge would be the numbers and facts about genetically modified foods. This would include the current policies on the issue, the number of countries that do require labels on all their foods, definitions of genetically modified foods, organic foods and others related to the topics etc. This is basically all of the information about the topic. The procedural knowledge is thinking about what this means to our world today. How will genetically modified foods effect us? How will organic foods effect us? What does this mean for health standards in the United States? What does this mean for our children? Are some disease that are increasing today linked to food production? What are my opinions on the topic and what do I plan to do about it? All of these questions are procedural knowledge. It is taking the facts about genetically modified and organic foods and applying it to our lives and the community as a whole. It looks at the bigger picture and applies the knowledge to the world we are living in.
• We would break this concept up into 4 different parts.
• Definitions - this is what the terms actually mean, What is organic and what is genetically modified? How do they differ? Where can each be purchased? etc.
• Current policies - What is the govenment doing about this problem today? When was the policy made (if any)? Has it been modified at all?
• Effects - this is what the problem is doing to our world today, What are genetically modified foods doing to our world? Who are they effecting the most? What are health risks from them? How will organic food change that? Etc.
• Action - this sections focuses on what we can do in the future, How will we change the problems with food labelling in the world today? What action will work the best and attract the most participants to take a stand? How will we get the government's attention?

New York Times Article: - focuses on the public's view of GMO's http://bittman.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/24/gmo-poll-results-and-more/?ref=geneticallymodifiedfood

Our Service Learning Ideas So Far...

If possible, we are trying to visit a local farm and/or market to speak directly with local business owners and farmers about GMO's, local products, and growing/selling organic products. Because it is February, it may be a little more difficult to find a farm that is currently open for the season, but it is very likely we will be able to contact some people for an off-season tour or at least phone interview. Best case scenario will be actually being able to offer help at a farm to get a first hand experience.

• Visit a variety of local farms:
• Marini's Farm, Ipswich, MA
• A third generation farm featuring fresh farm-grown and locally grown fruit & produce
• Open from May 1 through November 7th

Address: 259 Linebrook Road              Ipswich, MA 01938

Phone Number: (978) 356-0430  (note: Although this farm is not currently open for business, there could be a possibility that Mr. Marini or one of his family members would be willing to meet with us. After calling the farm, a worker gave me a better time to call back and said it may be possibly for an interview about the farm, the farms philosophies/beliefs and their practices regarding our topic.)

• If we are unable to visit a farm- local supermarkets, shops, or stores could offer some interesting and valuable information. Some ideas that could work towards our service learning project might include visiting at least one:
• Locally owned food market or store
• Grampy's Store (Located in Ipswich, MA however products from "Grampy's" farm come from the actual farm in Rowley, MA)
• Large scale corporate supermarkets
• Shaws (Locations throughout the Northshore)
• Stop & Shop (Locations throughout the Northshore)
• Market Basket (Demoulas) (Rowley, MA, other Northshore locations as well)

•  Larger Scale Supermarkets geared toward more natural/organic food products
• Whole Foods (Salem, MA in Vinnan Square)