Let's create continuous conversations about climate change education: Spreading the Sediment of Science!

Foodprint Calculator

Provided by: Harvard University |Published on: November 9, 2021

Activity - Classroom Grades 6-8, 9-12, 3-5

Synopsis

This simple online calculator by Harvard University provides an easy way to calculate the carbon, nitrogen, and water footprints of your diet.
The results page provides relatable context for the footprints and provides the upper limit of per capita carbon emissions to avoid a climate disaster.

Subjects: Social Studies, Biology, Mathematics, Health

Authors: Harvard University

Region: North America, USA - Northeast, United States, Global, Massachusetts

Languages: English

Positives

This is a great tool that anyone can use to see how their food choices affect the planet.
There is a link to Harvard's Healthy Plate, which provides nutritional guidance for a sustainable and healthy diet.

Additional Prerequisites

The foodprint calculator can be used along with a general carbon footprint calculator or carbon check activity to see what other actions people can take to reduce their impacts on the planet.

Differentiation

Social studies classes could use this resource when discussing cultural differences and the way diet is incorporated into social gatherings and celebrations.
If students are interested in changing their diet, they could watch this YEARS project video or this Vox video about ways to change your diet to help fight climate change.
School clubs could look to start a Meatless Mondays program at their school or students could advocate for more plants in their diets at home.
To extend the lesson for more advanced students, the global impacts of food production and agriculture can be explored in this interactive data resource and in this StC lesson plan about the impacts of food on the climate.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

Standards

Resource Type and Format

All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.