Sustainability & Food Systems Project for Kids (Grades 4–6)
A Hands-On Environmental Science PBL That Makes Learning Real
What if your child could learn science, math, and global awareness all through food?
This Sustainability and Food Systems Project invites homeschool learners to explore how far their food travels, what “food miles” really mean, and how we can make more mindful, sustainable choices in what we eat.
Kids investigate the origins of their favorite meals, calculate transportation distances, and redesign recipes using locally sourced ingredients — building critical thinking, research, math, and environmental awareness along the way.
It’s a perfect mix of science, creativity, and real-world problem-solving that connects directly to everyday life.
🥦 What’s Included
✅ 13 Printable Project Pages
✅ Food Origins Research Sheets
✅ Food Scavenger Hunt + Mapping Activities
✅ Food Miles Calculator
✅ Farmer’s Market Recipe Challenge
✅ Snack-o-Gram: Eat Local Mini Challenge
✅ Infographic Templates
✅ Final Project + Reflection Pages
✅ Extension Ideas & Resource Links
🌱 What Your Child Will Learn
- Investigate where food comes from and how far it travels
- Understand food miles and sustainable food choices
- Practice research, writing, math, and critical thinking
- Create original infographics, menus, and recipe redesigns
- Make meaningful, real-world connections through guided inquiry
🧭 How It Works
Your child starts by choosing a favorite meal or snack.
They trace the origin of each ingredient, calculate how far it traveled, and then redesign the recipe using local or sustainable alternatives.
As they go, they’ll map food sources, crunch numbers, and explore how our choices affect the planet. The project wraps up with a final product—an infographic, menu redesign, or “Eat Local Challenge.”
🔢 Math Integration
Optional math tasks include calculating distances, estimating totals, and interpreting data in simple charts.
Parents can scale the difficulty for younger or older learners.
🧩 Adaptable for All Ages
You can pick and choose pages based on your child’s age, interests, and ability level:
- Younger kids focus on creative mapping and design
- Older learners dive deeper into research, analysis, and sustainability math
🌟 Why Homeschool Families Love It
- Connects science and daily life in a meaningful way
- Encourages independence and real-world curiosity
- Works beautifully for Earth Day, science blocks, or unit studies
- Combines STEM, writing, and environmental awareness
- Easy to use — print and go!
Guiding Question:
How can we learn where our food comes from—and make more mindful, sustainable choices in what we eat?
You’ll get a 13-page printable activity pages that helps your child explore where food comes from, calculate food miles, and design sustainable recipes—perfect for homeschool learners in grades 4–6.