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Poverty and Hunger

Grades: 
6, 7, 8
Subjects: 
Arts Education
Language Arts
Philanthropy
Social Studies
Keywords & Concepts: 
Poverty
Hunger
Minimum wage
Federal poverty level
USDA food guide
Recommended daily allowances
Dietary reference intake
Household income
Poverty line
Standard of living
Working poor

Students learn how poverty and hunger are related.

Duration 
Print2 hours
Objectives 

Students will:

  • define key terms related to poverty and hunger.
  • create a monthly budget for a family of four.
  • discuss poverty, wages, and hunger.
Materials 

"Official USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home at Four Levels, U.S. Average." United States Department of Agriculture. Web.

Vocabulary 
  • minimum wage
  • federal poverty level 
  • USDA food guide
  • recommended daily allowance 
  • dietary reference intake
  • household income
  • poverty line
  • standard of living
  • working poor
Reflection 

In a brief written reflection, address the questions:

  • Who is hungry in America?
  • What circumstances cause food insecurity?
  • What circumstances cause hunger?
Bibliography 

"Official USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home at Four Levels, U.S. Average, July 2014." United States Department of Agriculture, July 2014. Web.  https://www.cnpp.usda.gov/USDAFoodPlansCostofFood/reports 

Related Resources 

Instructions

Print

  1. Introduce students to vocabulary and key terms: Minimum wage, federal poverty level, USDA food guide, recommended daily allowances (RDA), dietary reference intake, household income, poverty line, standard of living, and working poor.

  2. Give students a copy of the "Official USDA Food Plans" (printout or Internet access) and ask them to review it.

  3. Ask students to create a monthly food budget for a family of four, using the USDA cost estimates on the webpage they reviewed. 

    After they create their budgets, have them talk about the other costs of raising a family. Discuss why the phrase "heat or eat" is used in homes living in poverty. 

    Note: the USDA has a calculator to help families calculate the cost of raising a child found on this page http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/

  4. Follow up with the discussion questions:

    • How could a working class family have one or more full time workers and still be poor?
    • What programs or services could help make life more manageable for your family?
    • What roadblocks exist that may hinder eligibility for and access to these programs?
    • How does poverty contribute to nutritional deprivation?
    • Do you think minimum wage should be adjusted or inflated? Why or why not?

  5. Ask students to write a reflection in their personal journals.

Assessment 

Students answer discussion and reflection questions.