The presentation outlines the educational priorities and actions for Cyprus teachers to address global food issues in schools. Key initiatives include the creation of school gardens, visits to local farms, and programs to promote healthy eating and sustainable development. Challenges such as limited curriculum time and engaging students in sustainable discussions are also highlighted.

1. Sustainable Food Systems and
Global Education:
Priorities for Cyprus teachers in
addressing global food issues at school &
pilot application of Global Learning Units
Milano, 17 October 2015
Presentation by:
Dimitra Chatzistavrou-Chrysostomou
INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE WORKSHOP
FOR TEACHERS
INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE WORKSHOP
FOR TEACHERS

2. CONTRIBUTIONS
2
 Andreou Giorgoula
Makedonitissa 2nd
Elementary School
 Chatzistavrou-Chrysostomou Dimitra
Agios Athanasios 2nd
Elementary School
 Constantinou-Shiambi Praxoula
Makedonitissa 1st
Elementary School
 Economidou Olga
Linopetra Elementary School
 Papaevripides Nicolaos
Agios Ioannis of Nicosia Elementary School

3. Overview
3
 Educational priorities on global food issues at
school
 Actions & Certain activities (a selection)
 Main Challenges
 Pilot Application of a Learning Unit

4. EDUCATIONAL PRIORITIES
4
 Creation of school gardens:
from planting to consuming vegetables
1. Take care of myself, the others, the environment: realise the
close relation between humans and nature
Makedonitissa 2nd
Elementary School (Class: 3B)

5. EDUCATIONAL PRIORITIES
5
 Visit to smallholder
farms and organic farms
 Awareness-raising
educational programs,
e.g. "Olive, the treasure
of the earth”
 Invitation of
stakeholders from the
Ministry of Agriculture &
workshop for halloumi
production
2. Familiarize with local agriculture and local products and stress
the importance of preferring them over imported ones.
Linopetra Elementary School (Class: 4A)

6. EDUCATIONAL PRIORITIES
6
 Fruit time: Daily fruit
consumption by
students and teachers
 Healthy Breakfast Day:
consumption of healthy
local products from the
school garden
3. Rational consumption and healthy eating habits
Makedonitissa 1st
Elementary School (Class: 6B)

7. EDUCATIONAL PRIORITIES
7
 Targeted lessons in curricula,
e.g. Life Education
 Green Day or Action Day:
events, interactive
presentations and activities, in
some cases with the active
involvement of the parents’
associations
 Local initiatives in cooperation
with the municipalities
4. Foster knowledge in sustainable development, agriculture,
alternative food systems and global development.

8. EDUCATIONAL PRIORITIES
8
 Initiative against food waste:
Weight of food in rubbish bins
& measures to reduce it
 Waste management programs,
e.g. paper, cooking oil, printer
inks, batteries
 Organic composting bins: the
fertilizer to be used for the
school garden (extension of
initiative at community level)
4. Cultivate attitudes to reduce food waste
Agios Athanasios 2nd
Elementary School

9. EDUCATIONAL PRIORITIES
9
 Bring students in
contact with people
exercising
agriculture-related
professions
4. Reverse the negative perception of children regarding the
agriculture and farming professions
Agios Ioannis of Nicosia Elementary School

10. MAIN CHALLENGES
10
 Involve students in sustainable
development discussion
 Engage in issues such as food
security, smallholder agriculture,
rational consumption and change attitudes
 Realize the interconnections and relevance to the
well-being of societies at local and global level.
 Limited time and learning units as part of curricula

11. EXAMPLE OF A LEARNING UNIT
11
 Subject:
Introduction to food
 School:
Agios Athanasios 2nd
Elementary School
 Class: 6th
grade
(11-12 years old)

12. EXAMPLE OF A LEARNING UNIT
12
 Objectives of Learning Unit:
 Define what is food and provide examples
 Indicate the key elements needed for the animals and
plants to survive and grow
 Explain the role of smallholder farming in food production
as a key factor to sustainable development
 Identify the importance of various substances used aimed
at increasing the production in agriculture and livestock
farming and assess the effects on human health and the
environment.

13. EXAMPLE OF A LEARNING UNIT
13
 Learning Unit with
teaching material &
student worksheets
 PowerPoint
Presentation
 Video

14. EXAMPLE OF A LEARNING UNIT
14
 Active participation of students

15. 15
Thank you for your attention!