Hunger and Poverty Project Preparation Resource Kit

Hunger and poverty are a reality in Chicago, across the country and around the world. While many people believe that hunger and poverty are individual problems, there is sufficient evidence demonstrating that government policies have a direct impact on hunger, both the number of people suffering from hunger and malnutrition and the severity of the problem. A considerable number of myths about hunger continue to exist. It is important for students to have an opportunity to examine these myths in order to have a deeper, fuller understanding of the problem of hunger in this country and around the world. One goal of a Service Learning project that focuses on hunger should be that students are equipped to analyze and evaluate the root causes of hunger and different approaches to solving the problem of hunger. The purpose of this curriculum guide is to connect these important experiences with academic content. This guide can assist classroom teachers who want to prepare students for a service project that addresses the problems of hunger and poverty. The guide includes facts and figures, definitions and myths about hunger, activities designed to gain a deeper understanding of hunger and poverty, and resources to explore hunger in Chicago. Additionally, service project ideas and ideas for connections to classroom content and standards are included. The curriculum guide is designed to connect service experiences with academic content. It is divided into the following sections:

• Facts and figures about hunger and poverty
• Definitions and myths
• Activities
• Service project ideas
• Resources (people, websites, organizations, curriculum)
• Classroom connections
• Links to Illinois State Standards