Worlds of food

Explore how climate affects food from around the world with our free resource for students aged 5–14.

Team GB athletes enjoy foods from all over the world, but what makes a national dish? Our Worlds of Food resources build understanding of food around the world, the variety of ways in which we can build a balanced meal and how geography – landscapes, climates and ecosystems – can shape food traditions. The activities celebrate the similarities and differences in international foods, explore how food grows and challenge students to use their geographical knowledge to create a dish for a fictional country!

Key questions 

  • What are the similarities and difference between different national dishes?
  • What is a climate zone/can you name and describe a hot, warm and cold country?
  • How does climate and geography influence food and national dishes?

Key learnings 

  • The similarities, differences and diversity among people of different race, culture in the context of food traditions. 
  • Factors that might influence decisions about eating a balanced diet.
  • Identifying and applying features of climate and physical geography to a discussion of world food.

Film discussion points

Watch our Travel with Food film (recommended for ages 5–11). 

  • What is Alistair Brownlee’s favourite country for food?
  • Can you list the different foods that you heard?
  • What ingredients make guacamole?

Activity ideas

The following resources can be used flexibly as best suits your students. We recommend the following resources for each age group. 

Ages 5–7

  • Watch the Travel with Food film (above) and discuss the questions.
  • Work together to group the Country Match cards and play the Country Match game.
  • Give students one or more fruit or vegetables from the Colouring Plants activity sheets. Ask them to colour the image and answer the questions (answers provided on final sheet). Once complete ask children to do their own research to find out one/two more ‘fun facts’ about that plant, including a recipe that uses it.

Ages 7–9

  • Use the Worlds of Food presentation (1) to guide your students through an exploration of geography and food. 
  • As prompted through the presentation, use the Country Match cards and play the Country Match game.
  • Use the Your National Dish activity sheet/template on slide 20 the support students in creating a dish from the options provided for their fictional nation.
  • Download the Worlds of Food Key Vocabulary information sheet to support students in building their core geographical and food vocabulary. 

Ages 9–11

  • Use the Worlds of Food presentation (2) to guide your students through an exploration of geography and food.
  • As prompted through the presentation, use the Where in the World primary activity sheet to match national dishes to their country, or use the paperless version in the presentation. 
  • Use the Your National Dish activity sheet/template on slide 24 the support students in creating a dish for their fictional nation.
  • Download the Worlds of Food Key Vocabulary information sheet to support students in building their core geographical and food vocabulary.

Ages 11–14

  • Use the Worlds of Food presentation (3) to guide your students through an exploration of geography, climate and food.
  • As prompted through the presentation, use the Where in the World secondary activity sheet to match national dishes (including some lesser known examples) to their country, or use the paperless version in the presentation.
  • Use the Your National Dish activity sheet/template on slide 25 the support students in creating a dish for their fictional nation.

Student Resources

Country Match Activity Cards

Match the food, wildlife and common landscape feature to the correct country and play the Country Match game!

Resource type: Activity sheet

Learning focus: national dishes, geography - exploring the world

Recommended age group: 5–9

Colouring Plants Activity Sheet

Colour in these fruits and vegetables and answer the questions to find out more about how and where they grow.

Resource type: Activity sheet

Learning focus: growing food, geography - hot and cold countries

Recommended age group: 5–7

Worlds of Food Presentation (1)

Explore the similarities and differences between national foods in hot, warm or cold countries and build your own simple...

Resource type: Presentation

Learning focus: national dishes, growing food, geography - climate

Recommended age group: 7–9

Key Vocabularly

Use this sheet to find definitions of key terms used in the Worlds of Food (1) presentation.

Resource type: Information sheet

Learning focus: national dishes, geography, vocabulary

Recommended age group: 7–9

Worlds of Food Presentation (2)

Explore how climate zones and landscape can affect staple foods around the world and create a national dish for a fictio...

Resource type: Presentation

Learning focus: national dishes, growing food, staple foods, geography - climate zones and the natural world

Recommended age group: 9–11

Where in the World Activity Cards (2

Match national dishes to their continent with this hands-on version of the Where in the World activity from the Worlds o...

Resource type: Activity sheet

Learning focus: national dishes, cultures around the world

Recommended age group: 9–11

Worlds of Food Presentation (3)

Explore how climate zones and physical geography can affect staple foods around the world and create a national dish for...

Resource type: Presentation

Learning focus: national dishes, growing food, staple foods, geography - climate zones and the natural world

Recommended age group: 11–14

Where in the World Activity Cards

Match national dishes to their continent with this hands-on version of the Where in the World activity from the Worlds o...

Resource type: Activity sheet

Learning focus: national dishes, cultures around the world

Recommended age group: 11–14

BTSIA_Official_Shortlist_Logo