Hunger

The links on this page are intended to help religious educators with activities, lesson plans, reflections and prayers around a particular topic.  The primary emphasis is on teaching and formation tools, not on content.  If you would like to know more about this particular topic, please visit the OJP issues web page or use any good search engine.

There are two categories of resources in the table below.  Download means either that there is a downloadable document or that the text on that web page can be copied and pasted into your own document.  Online means that the activity is interactive and must be done on the computer.

Back to Main Page

Primary         Intermediate Grades     Middle School     

High School            Adult                  Parish

Primary

Mennonite Central Committee

Most of their materials can be borrowed free of charge.

Materials that can be borrowed for free Complete units and videos All ages

The Hunger Site

There is a curriculum for grades K-4 using some children’s literature.  There are also suggestions for practical projects under “activities.”

Download Lesson plans and actions Primarily grades K-4 although some materials suitable for all ages

United Nations World Hunger Programme

This link will take you to an interactive map which lets students look at different nations and how severe their hunger problems are as well as some of the sources of their hunger crisis.

Online Activity All ages
Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger

This website has lesson plans for primary, intermediate and secondary levels.  There is also a youth window for younger students.  The lesson plans are available for download in a pdf format at the bottom of the individual lesson plans for each level. 

Download

(Some online activities are also available)

Complete lesson plans Primary

Intermediate

Secondary

Feeding Children Better

This link will take you to a page dealing with childhood hunger in our own country.  The quiz is online and gives the facts about childhood hunger once you input your answer (multiple choice).

Online Activity and background All

The Great American Bake Sale

The great American Bake Sale is a national campaign that encourages everyone to help end childhood hunger in America by hosting a bake sale in their community Oct. 16 through Feb. 28.  The website also includes some limited information on childhood hunger in the U.S.

Download Action Younger students

Heifer International

You can request a free hunger curriculum. Go to their Educational Resource page.

 The church curriculum is entitled “Animal Crackers.”

Available for order, free of charge, plus other materials which can be downloaded Complete curriculum All ages

Oxfam America

This is a hunger simulation which is done on the computer.  People are asked to become a person; they receive background information about that person and have to make some choices about that person’s future.  It is a cyber-version of the hunger banquet.

 They also have an online hunger quiz which covers both domestic and global hunger.

They also provide almost all the materials you need to put on a hunger banquet (except the food).  You do need to register to do this, but the registration is free.  This registration also allows you access to some other educational materials.

 

Online

 

 

 

 

Online

 

Download

 

Simulation

 

All ages

Church World Service

 “Facts Have Faces.”  These are downloadable or can be ordered.

·         Hunger in a World of Plenty 

Especially useful is a section entitled “We Can Do That Too.”  It includes activities and prayer resources specifically around hunger.   
Online and downloads Simulations, bulletin inserts, prayer resources All ages

Kids Can Make a Difference

This page gives many suggestions for ways children can get involved and help with problems of hunger and homelessness.

Download Actions Grades 1-8

Hunger No More

This page has a host of activities for children in order to learn about hunger and also has some suggestions for follow-up actions.

Online and download Activities, plays, prayers and reflections Elementary grades

Foods Resource Bank

There are many resources available including a short downloadable video.

Download Activities and demonstrations Elementary through adult
Water Aid UK

This site has online activities to teach about the role of access to clean water in development. It includes stories about children the same age as the target audience.  This particular page has activities for children under 11.  There are also other resources for teachers.

Online Activities Under 11
Build a Better World- Water

This resource from Church World Service is available online or can be ordered free of charge from CWS.  The curriculum includes stories, Scripture, and activities.

Download Curriculum Elementary

Return to top of page

Intermediate Grades

Mennonite Central Committee

Most of their materials can be borrowed free of charge.

Materials that can be borrowed for free Complete units and videos All ages

The Hunger Site

There is a curriculum for grades K-4 using some children’s literature.  There are also suggestions for practical projects under “activities.”

Download Lesson plans and actions Primarily grades K-4 although some materials suitable for all ages

United Nations World Hunger Programme

This link will take you to an interactive map which lets students look at different nations and how severe their hunger problems are as well as some of the sources of their hunger crisis.

Online Activity All ages
Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger

This website has lesson plans for primary, intermediate and secondary levels.  There is also a youth window for younger students.  The lesson plans are available for download in a pdf format at the bottom of the individual lesson plans for each level. 

Download

(Some online activities are also available)

Complete lesson plans Primary

Intermediate

Secondary

Feeding Children Better

This link will take you to a page dealing with childhood hunger in our own country.  The quiz is online and gives the facts about childhood hunger once you input your answer (multiple choice).

Online Activity and background All

The Great American Bake Sale

The great American Bake Sale is a national campaign that encourages everyone to help end childhood hunger in America by hosting a bake sale in their community Oct. 16 through Feb. 28.  The website also includes some limited information on childhood hunger in the U.S.

Download Action Younger students

Heifer International

You can request a free hunger curriculum. Go to their Educational Resource page.

 The church curriculum is entitled “Animal Crackers.”

Available for order, free of charge, plus other materials which can be downloaded Complete curriculum All ages

Oxfam America

This is a hunger simulation which is done on the computer.  People are asked to become a person; they receive background information about that person and have to make some choices about that person’s future.  It is a cyber-version of the hunger banquet.

 They also have an online hunger quiz which covers both domestic and global hunger.

They also provide almost all the materials you need to put on a hunger banquet (except the food).  You do need to register to do this, but the registration is free.  This registration also allows you access to some other educational materials.

 

Online

 

 

 

 

Online

 

Download

 

Simulation

 

All ages

Church World Service

 “Facts Have Faces.”  These are downloadable or can be ordered.

·         Hunger in a World of Plenty 

Especially useful is a section entitled “We Can Do That Too.”  It includes activities and prayer resources specifically around hunger.   
Online and downloads Simulations, bulletin inserts, prayer resources All ages

Planet Teacher

This is a UK site so some of the information and spellings will need some “translation.”

Suggested for approximately grades 4-6. One of the buttons on the web page is the “hot news” button.  This link will send you to a page which has suggestions for follow-up action. 

·         Hunger- Famine and hunger

This Planet teacher topic helps explain why so many people in the world don't have enough to eat.

You can also sign up for their e-zine free of charge.  They also send out information for use by youth group leaders.  Also free of charge.

Download and online Stories and background Grades 4-6

World Food Day

There are some simple suggested activities on this page.  There is also a classroom adaptation of the Hunger Banquet.

Download Simulation Intermediate through high school

Kids Can Make a Difference

This page gives many suggestions for ways children can get involved and help with problems of hunger and homelessness.

Download Actions Grades 1-8

Hunger No More

This page has a host of activities for children in order to learn about hunger and also has some suggestions for follow-up actions.

Online and download Activities, plays, prayers and reflections Elementary grades

Foods Resource Bank

There are many resources available including a short downloadable video.

Download Activities and demonstrations Elementary through adult
Water Aid UK

This site has online activities to teach about the role of access to clean water in development. It includes stories about children the same age as the target audience.  There are two pages which would pertain to intermediate grades:

Ages 7-11

Ages 11-14

There are also other resources for teachers.

Online Activities Ages 7-14
Build a Better World- Water

This resource from Church World Service is available online or can be ordered free of charge from CWS.  The curriculum includes stories, Scripture, and activities.

Download Curriculum Elementary

Return to top of page

Middle School

Mennonite Central Committee

Most of their materials can be borrowed free of charge.

Materials that can be borrowed for free Complete units and videos All ages

The Hunger Site

There is a curriculum for grades K-4 using some children’s literature.  There are also suggestions for practical projects under “activities.”

Download Lesson plans and actions Primarily grades K-4 although some materials suitable for all ages

United Nations World Hunger Programme

This link will take you to an interactive map which lets students look at different nations and how severe their hunger problems are as well as some of the sources of their hunger crisis.

Online Activity All ages
Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger

This website has lesson plans for primary, intermediate and secondary levels.  There is also a youth window for younger students.  The lesson plans are available for download in a pdf format at the bottom of the individual lesson plans for each level. 

Download

(Some online activities are also available)

Complete lesson plans Primary

Intermediate

Secondary

Feeding Children Better

This link will take you to a page dealing with childhood hunger in our own country.  The quiz is online and gives the facts about childhood hunger once you input your answer (multiple choice).

Online Activity and background All

The Great American Bake Sale

The great American Bake Sale is a national campaign that encourages everyone to help end childhood hunger in America by hosting a bake sale in their community Oct. 16 through Feb. 28.  The website also includes some limited information on childhood hunger in the U.S.

Download Action Younger students

Heifer International

You can request a free hunger curriculum. Go to their Educational Resource page.

 The church curriculum is entitled “Animal Crackers.”

Available for order, free of charge, plus other materials which can be downloaded Complete curriculum All ages

Oxfam America

This is a hunger simulation which is done on the computer.  People are asked to become a person; they receive background information about that person and have to make some choices about that person’s future.  It is a cyber-version of the hunger banquet.

 They also have an online hunger quiz which covers both domestic and global hunger.

They also provide almost all the materials you need to put on a hunger banquet (except the food).  You do need to register to do this, but the registration is free.  This registration also allows you access to some other educational materials.

 

Online

 

 

 

 

Online

 

Download

 

Simulation

 

All ages

Church World Service

This is an online activity which can be done either from a man or woman’s point of view.  The person has to make decisions for this person.  The activity points up the very difficult decisions that the poor have to make.  It includes some reflection questions at the end of the exercise and encourages the participant to try the exercise again to see what the consequences are with different decisions.

Online Simulation Middle school through adult

Church World Service

 “Facts Have Faces.”  These are downloadable or can be ordered.

·         Hunger in a World of Plenty 

Especially useful is a section entitled “We Can Do That Too.”  It includes activities and prayer resources specifically around hunger.   
Online and downloads Simulations, bulletin inserts, prayer resources All ages

National Catholic Rural Life Conference

The NCRLC has a campaign on the ethics of eating.  It looks at the other side of food issues in terms of our consumption and the supply chains for our food.

Download Background Adult

The Gerda and Kurt Klein Foundation

Gerda is a Holocaust survivor.  She and her husband set up this non-profit to promote tolerance and activism, especially around hunger issues.  Teachers may order a kit which contains 100 copies of a magazine “Stand Up, Speak Out, Lend a Hand” as well as a teacher guide and the Academy Award winning documentary about Gerda’s life “One Survivor Remembers.”  There are downloadable copies of the student magazine and teacher guide for your preview.  Target audience would be middle school and older.  The focus is not so much on hunger but getting active around the issue.

Download Background information and actions Middle school through high school

World Food Day

There are some simple suggested activities on this page.  There is also a classroom adaptation of the Hunger Banquet.

Download Simulation Intermediate through high school

Kids Can Make a Difference

This page gives many suggestions for ways children can get involved and help with problems of hunger and homelessness.

Download Actions Grades 1-8

Hunger No More

This page has a host of activities for children in order to learn about hunger and also has some suggestions for follow-up actions.

Online and download Activities, plays, prayers and reflections Elementary grades

Presbyterian Hunger Program

This page has some simple hunger simulations for world hunger.

Download Simulations Middle school through adult

Foods Resource Bank

There are many resources available including a short downloadable video.

Download Activities and demonstrations Elementary through adult
Souper Bowl of Caring

This website contains the tools needed to carry on the Souper Bowl of Caring.  This activity takes place on Super Bowl Sunday and is intended to raise awareness about hunger as well as money.  There are reflection guides and prayers also available.

Download Complete activity kit Middle school and high school
Water Aid UK

This site has online activities to teach about the role of access to clean water in development. It includes stories about children the same age as the target audience.

Ages 11-14

There are also other resources for teachers.

Online Activities Ages 11-14
Hunger Issue Orientation

This short online video from NetAid presents a very thorough and understandable introduction to poverty, introducing terminology, causes and solutions.

Online Background Ages 11 through adult

Return to top of page

High School

Mennonite Central Committee

Most of their materials can be borrowed free of charge.

Materials that can be borrowed for free Complete units and videos All ages

The Hunger Site

There is a curriculum for grades K-4 using some children’s literature.  There are also suggestions for practical projects under “activities.”

Download Lesson plans and actions Primarily grades K-4 although some materials suitable for all ages

United Nations World Hunger Programme

This link will take you to an interactive map which lets students look at different nations and how severe their hunger problems are as well as some of the sources of their hunger crisis.

Online Activity All ages

Hunger in the World Curriculum

Intended for grades 9-12, this unit includes good information and activities.

Download Complete unit Grades 9-12
Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger

This website has lesson plans for primary, intermediate and secondary levels.  There is also a youth window for younger students.  The lesson plans are available for download in a pdf format at the bottom of the individual lesson plans for each level. 

Download

(Some online activities are also available)

Complete lesson plans Primary

Intermediate

Secondary

Feeding Children Better

This link will take you to a page dealing with childhood hunger in our own country.  The quiz is online and gives the facts about childhood hunger once you input your answer (multiple choice).

Online Activity and background All

Heifer International

You can request a free hunger curriculum. Go to their Educational Resource page.

 The church curriculum is entitled “Animal Crackers.”

Available for order, free of charge, plus other materials which can be downloaded Complete curriculum All ages

St. Andrew Society

They offer a six- week Scripture study on hunger.  You can order hard copies at a cost, but it is a free download from the website.  The website has other information about hunger and about gleaning programs and wasted food in our country. 

They have an online quiz about national and global hunger.

Download except for the quiz Reflection High school and adult

Oxfam America

This is a hunger simulation which is done on the computer.  People are asked to become a person; they receive background information about that person and have to make some choices about that person’s future.  It is a cyber-version of the hunger banquet.

 They also have an online hunger quiz which covers both domestic and global hunger.

They also provide almost all the materials you need to put on a hunger banquet (except the food).  You do need to register to do this, but the registration is free.  This registration also allows you access to some other educational materials.

 

Online

 

 

 

Online

 

Download

 

Simulation

 

All ages

Catholic Relief Services

Catholic Relief Services also has a food fast activity with a manual available online.  This resource includes prayers which the Oxfam site does not.  There is no registration necessary.  The page also includes a simulation: Life as a Coffee Farmer.  They have resources in Spanish as well.

Download Complete activity High school

Church World Service

This is an online activity which can be done either from a man or woman’s point of view.  The person has to make decisions for this person.  The activity points up the very difficult decisions that the poor have to make.  It includes some reflection questions at the end of the exercise and encourages the participant to try the exercise again to see what the consequences are with different decisions.

Online Simulation Middle school through adult

Church World Service

 “Facts Have Faces.”  These are downloadable or can be ordered.

·         Hunger in a World of Plenty 

Especially useful is a section entitled “We Can Do That Too.”  It includes activities and prayer resources specifically around hunger.   
Online and downloads Simulations, bulletin inserts, prayer resources All ages
Theology Library

This site provides theological reflection tools on hunger as well as many other justice topics.

Download theological reflection high school and adult

The Gerda and Kurt Klein Foundation

Gerda is a Holocaust survivor.  She and her husband set up this non-profit to promote tolerance and activism, especially around hunger issues.  Teachers may order a kit which contains 100 copies of a magazine “Stand Up, Speak Out, Lend a Hand” as well as a teacher guide and the Academy Award winning documentary about Gerda’s life “One Survivor Remembers.”  There are downloadable copies of the student magazine and teacher guide for your preview.  Target audience would be middle school and older.  The focus is not so much on hunger but getting active around the issue.

Download Background information and actions Middle school through high school

World Food Day

There are some simple suggested activities on this page.  There is also a classroom adaptation of the Hunger Banquet.

Download Simulation Intermediate through high school

kNOw Hunger

This is a six unit study for high school around domestic and international hunger issues.  Even though it is intended for high school students, it is an excellent resource for information about hunger in general including a glossary of terms.  There is a note on one of the pages that a middle school curriculum will be available soon.

Download Complete unit High school

Presbyterian Hunger Program

This page has some simple hunger simulations for world hunger.

Download Simulations Middle school through adult

Trocaire

Trocaire is the Irish equivalent of Catholic Relief Services here.  However, they have some wonderful educational materials available for downloading on their website.  They indicate the targeted age group.  Some materials will need adaptation because of spelling.  These activities have to do with hunger.

Download Complete unit High school and adult
The Poverty Diet

This exercise from the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy helps participants experience a diet based on the allocations for food stamps in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  The exercise also contains stories of people who live the poverty diet every day through no choice of their own.

Download Activity and reflection High school and adult
One World

There is a resource available with 12 myths about hunger.

Download Background High school and adult
Souper Bowl of Caring

This website contains the tools needed to carry on the Souper Bowl of Caring.  This activity takes place on Super Bowl Sunday and is intended to raise awareness about hunger as well as money.  There are reflection guides and prayers also available.

Download Complete activity kit Middle school and high school
Water Aid UK

This site has online activities to teach about the role of access to clean water in development. It includes stories about children the same age as the target audience. 

Ages 15-18

There are also other resources for teachers.

Online Activities Ages 15-18

Foods Resource Bank

There are many resources available including a short downloadable video.

Download Activities and demonstrations Elementary through adult
Hunger Issue Orientation

This short online video from NetAid presents a very thorough and understandable introduction to poverty, introducing terminology, causes and solutions.

Online Background Ages 11 through adult

Return to top of page

Adult

Mennonite Central Committee

Most of their materials can be borrowed free of charge.

Materials that can be borrowed for free Complete units and videos All ages

United Nations World Hunger Programme

This link will take you to an interactive map which lets students look at different nations and how severe their hunger problems are as well as some of the sources of their hunger crisis.

Online Activity All ages

Theology Library

This site has articles, church documents and statements that relate to the issue of hunger.

Download Reflection Adult

Feeding Children Better

This link will take you to a page dealing with childhood hunger in our own country.  The quiz is online and gives the facts about childhood hunger once you input your answer (multiple choice).

Online Activity and background All

Heifer International

You can request a free hunger curriculum. Go to their Educational Resource page.

 The church curriculum is entitled “Animal Crackers.”

Available for order, free of charge, plus other materials which can be downloaded Complete curriculum All ages

St. Andrew Society

They offer a six- week Scripture study on hunger.  You can order hard copies at a cost, but it is a free download from the website.  The website has other information about hunger and about gleaning programs and wasted food in our country. 

They have an online quiz about national and global hunger.

Download except for the quiz Reflection High school and adult

Oxfam America

This is a hunger simulation which is done on the computer.  People are asked to become a person; they receive background information about that person and have to make some choices about that person’s future.  It is a cyber-version of the hunger banquet.

 They also have an online hunger quiz which covers both domestic and global hunger.

They also provide almost all the materials you need to put on a hunger banquet (except the food).  You do need to register to do this, but the registration is free.  This registration also allows you access to some other educational materials.

 

Online

 

 

 

Online

 

Download

 

Simulation

 

All ages

Catholic Relief Services

Catholic Relief Services also has a food fast activity with a manual available online.  This resource includes prayers which the Oxfam site does not.  There is no registration necessary.  The page also includes a simulation: Life as a Coffee Farmer.  They have resources in Spanish as well.

Download Complete activity High school and adult

Church World Service

This is an online activity which can be done either from a man or woman’s point of view.  The person has to make decisions for this person.  The activity points up the very difficult decisions that the poor have to make.  It includes some reflection questions at the end of the exercise and encourages the participant to try the exercise again to see what the consequences are with different decisions.

Online Simulation Middle school through adult

Church World Service

 “Facts Have Faces.”  These are downloadable or can be ordered.

·         Hunger in a World of Plenty 

Especially useful is a section entitled “We Can Do That Too.”  It includes activities and prayer resources specifically around hunger.   
Online and downloads Simulations, bulletin inserts, prayer resources All ages
"Give Us This Day" 

This is a reflection on this line from the Lord's prayer and its relationship to our economy and hunger.  It was published on the Education for Justice website, and the original article was from Sojourners.

Download Reflection Adult

National Catholic Rural Life Conference

The NCRLC has a campaign on the ethics of eating.  It looks at the other side of food issues in terms of our consumption and the supply chains for our food.

Download Background Adult

Presbyterian Hunger Program

This page has some simple hunger simulations for world hunger.

Download Simulations Middle school through adult

Trocaire

Trocaire is the Irish equivalent of Catholic Relief Services here.  However, they have some wonderful educational materials available for downloading on their website.  They indicate the targeted age group.  Some materials will need adaptation because of spelling.  These activities have to do with hunger.

Download Complete unit High school and adult
The Poverty Diet

This exercise from the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy helps participants experience a diet based on the allocations for food stamps in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  The exercise also contains stories of people who live the poverty diet every day through no choice of their own.

Download Activity and reflection High school and adult
One World

There is a resource available with 12 myths about hunger.

Download Background High school and adult
A Biblical Perspective on the Problem of Hunger

This article at religion online offers a theological reflection by Walter Brueggeman on the problem of hunger.

Download Theological reflection Adult

Foods Resource Bank

There are many resources available including a short downloadable video.

Download Activities and demonstrations Elementary through adult
Hunger Issue Orientation

This short online video from NetAid presents a very thorough and understandable introduction to poverty, introducing terminology, causes and solutions.

Online Background Ages 11 through adult

Return to top of page

Parish

Just Eating: Practicing Our Faith at the Table

This material is published by the Presbyterian Hunger Program, but available on the Church World Service Website.  This is an extensive resource for use in parishes as part of a family education unit on hunger and justice and food.  However, there are loads of good Scripture selections, activities and suggestions for follow-up activities.

Download Complete unit Parish

Bread for the World

This organization works on domestic and global hunger issues.  Yearly they sponsor a campaign called an “offering of letters.”  It includes educational materials as well as sample letters to write to legislators around the specific hunger or poverty issue chosen that year.  It is a very effective campaign and suitable for older elementary through adult.

Available for order with some information available online Kit Parish

Return to top of page

Return to Main Page