Food and water: Producing food

Planet Planners on Roblox is an engaging way for students to learn about some of the world's most pressing challenges – from preparing for natural disasters to managing large cities.

A decision-making exercise game with geographical thinking at its core, it also builds key skills such as teamwork, time management, resilience, problem-solving and decision-making.

It is accessed via Roblox – an immersive platform for 3D experiences. To learn more about Roblox and how it can be used in education, visit Get started with Roblox Education.

For more detailed information about the game, visit How to teach using Planet Planners on Roblox.

Play Planet Planners on Roblox.

In this scenario, players take on the role of decision-makers in a rural farming community where they must weigh up environmental sustainability, food security and economic development.

They must analyse data and respond to environmental and agricultural issues, as well as make decisions about water pollution, crops and infrastructure.

Players are encouraged to think critically and evaluate trade-offs between increased profits and the protection of natural resources.

Approximate location: East Africa

Download/print the teacher notes for this scenario (PDF).

Teacher notes prepared in partnership with the Geographical Association.

Learning objectives

• To identify the challenges of food distribution in low-income countries (LICs), including issues related to infrastructure and transportation.
• To make decisions about strategies to address and combat food insecurity in LICs.
• To examine the political, economic and human costs associated with food insecurity in LICs.

Key decisions

• How should we respond to water pollution?
• What economic activities should we prioritise: food for local people or growing products for export?
• Which crops are best suited to specific rainfall and soil conditions?
• Should we use chemical or natural fertilisers?
• How do we balance the need for farmland with the protection of wildlife?

Key geographical terminology

Agriculture: Using the land to produce food – eg growing crops or rearing animals.

Export: To sell goods to other countries and send them out of the country to them. The goods are known as exports.

Fertiliser: Nutrients added to the land to make crops grow better.

Pollution: Something in the environment that shouldn’t naturally be there – eg chemical spills in rivers and lakes.

Think, work and apply like a geographer

Encourage students to explore the links between gameplay and real-world job roles, such as:

• agricultural scientist
• farmer
• hydrologist
• environmental consultant
• conservation officer

Questions to explore

• What are the causes and effects of water pollution in farming communities?
• How can farming practices affect local ecosystems and water sources?
• What factors influence crop choices?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of chemical and natural fertiliser use in low-income countries?
• How do decisions about land use affect biodiversity and food security?
• How do infrastructure investments improve rural livelihoods?
• Who benefits from export-focused agriculture vs. local food production?
• What are the effects of deforestation?

Emotional and ethical considerations

Ethical decision-making: Is it fair to prioritise exports if local people go hungry? Should we protect endangered species at the expense of farming expansion? Should big companies or small farmers benefit more from shared community resources?

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