Chocolate money
Chocolate money
Short description
Europeans love chocolate - we eat over half the world's supply! The bad news is that we are eating more cocoa than can be produced and soon chocolate may become a rare and precious commodity as farmers struggle to meet demand. In this activity students apply their knowledge of pollination to discuss why cocoa yields on a plantation are decreasing. They then find out who funds scientific research by taking roles in a funding meeting - can they work out a deal where all parties will benefit?
Blueprint curriculum link
- Unit: Interdependence
- Concept: Abiotic & biotic: Abiotic and biotic factors affect the population of an organism
- Skills: Speak: Present
- Learning stage: Analyse
Weblinks
News story on why chocolate supplies are running low.
Cocoa pollination research project
Background reading for teachers. The real research project that the one in the activity was based on.
You can use this video to show the students how cocoa is harvested. The section 3:02-3:44 is suitable. If you have time, your students may enjoy watching the rest of the video which shows cocoa farmers tasting chocolate for the first time.
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My class were intrigued by this activity, they enjoyed the opportunity to take on different roles and worked well in different groups throughout the lesson. It fitted in well with our topic, was a nice activity to do at the end of term while introducing important ethical and commercial considerations.
My class were intrigued by this activity, they enjoyed the opportunity to take on different roles and worked well in different groups throughout the lesson. It fitted in well with our topic, was a nice activity to do at the end of term while introducing important ethical and commercial considerations.