The Rich and the Poor Learning and Teaching Activities

Society and Country(Key Stage 3)

Life Event Exemplar: The Rich and the Poor

Learning Objectives

： 1. To learn the concept of poverty and its causes as well as reflect on the issue of disparity between the rich and the poor in the society.

2. To understand the needs of the poor; respect and care for them. 3. To learn to treasure food and care for others through participating in

‘The Hunger Banquet’.

Values & Attitudes :

： Cherish what they possess, care for others, be empathetic, develop a sense of commitment and responsibility

Materials ： Appendix 1：Warm up activityAppendix 2：What is poverty?Appendix 3：Video clip watching Appendix 4：Teachers’ reference – ‘Gini Coefficient’Appendix 5：Fair tradeAppendix 6：‘The Hunger Banquet’- Worksheets for reflection and pledge

Remarks ： Teachers should be aware of the underprivileged students while explaining the concept of poverty and delivering the related activities. Teacher should pay attention to the wordings used to avoid creating hard feelings.

Procedures：Steps (For reference) Key learning points

Activity 1：Warm up activity

1. Teacher asks students to think about their last experience of having a buffet meal.

2. Teacher distributes appendix 1 and asks students to discuss the eating culture of Hong Kong according to the choices of food, the range of food, amount of food supply, costs and food waste.

To arouse students’ interest

To show that Hong Kong people have high expectation on food quality. They love luxury food and food waste problem is common in Hong Kong

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The Rich and the Poor Learning and Teaching Activities

Steps (For reference) Key learning points

Activity 2：What is poverty?

1. Teacher asks students to read appendix 2 and ask them whether they consider Hong Kong as a city of poor or rich with reasons.

2. Students first share their ideas within the groups. Teacher invites 2-3 students from each group to share their ideas in front of the class.

3. Teacher asks students what poverty is and asks them to think of 3 adjectives or words to describe poverty. Write one word that best describe the concept on the blackboard.

4. Teacher summarises students’ answer. For example, teacher can categorise common or related descriptions and highlight the more meaningful one.

To find out how students perceive the concept of poverty. It helps students to better understand the problem of disparity between the rich and the poor in Hong Kong

Through students’ association of poverty, student can conceptualise their understanding of poverty in a more concrete way

Activity 3：Video clip watching

1. Teacher asks students to watch a video clip：RTHK, Rich Mate Poor Mate Series III: Michael Tien (2011-02-16)

http://podcast.rthk.hk/podcast/item_epi.php?pid=299&lang=zh-CN&id=11407，Length -22:02.

Only Chinese version is available.

2. Students can take notes in appendix 3 and answer the following questions.I. Which of the following reason(s) leads to poverty for the

individual/ family? Give examples to support your answers.Political (i.e. government policies)Personal (i.e. personality)Family (i.e. family background)Economics (i.e. income, cost of living)Social (i.e. housing, education, social welfare, equal

opportunities)

Through watching the video clip, students should understand the complex reasons leading to poverty of an individual. Students should avoid oversimplifying the causes to personal attributes, such as laziness

To teach students to respect people living in poverty, show empathy and offer them a helping hand whenever possible

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The Rich and the Poor Learning and Teaching Activities

Steps (For reference) Key learning points

3. After watching the video clip, teacher asks students if they consider Hong Kong is a city of rich, poor or having a huge wealth disparity and their explanations.

4. Teacher asks students to present their ideas.

Conclusion (For reference)：‘Why are some people poor when others are rich?’ This is a question of the ages. The causes of poverty of an individual could be personal, such as lack of talent and grit; as well as opportunities, societal circumstances and family background- which are beyond the control of an individual. Therefore, the reasons behind poverty are complex.

We should respect people living in poverty and tackle the root of the problem. We should reflect on the role of different stakeholders, help them break the vicious cycle of poverty and alleviate the wealth disparity.

Extended Activities:1. Understanding the ‘Gini Coefficient’

Teacher can explain that ‘Gini coefficient’ is a value for measuring the income distribution of a nation’s residents. It enhances students’ understanding on the wealth disparity in Hong Kong. (Reference: Appendix 4)

2. Fair tradeTeacher can refer to following resources while teaching the concept of fair trade. Instruct students to complete Appendix 5. Through learning the inequalities in the coffee supply chain, students should have a better understanding on wealth disparity.

Resources Learning objectives Websites

Oxfam ‘Let find a way out for farmers’ PowerPoint(Published in 2013)

(樂施會，「同為小農找出

Discuss how farmers are exploited in the sale of coffee beans. It brings out the issue of income disparity within the trade.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxoa2dlb2dyYXBoeXxneDo1Y2Q1ODkxNWU2MzhiY2Y0Only Chinese version is available.

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Yummy restaurant Party menu for 10• Chicken. ham, egg and potato salad• Roasted turkey (half)• Grilled vegetables with olive oil• Assorted chicken wings(sweet sauce, honey,lemongrass)• Stir-fried cabbage with bacon• Baked pork chop with fried rice• Stir-fried udon in XO sauce• Mango sago with pomelo

The Rich and the Poor Learning and Teaching Activities

路」簡報) (2013 年出版)

Fair Trade Hong Kong Coffee Trade ABC？(香港公平貿易聯盟，咖啡貿易 ABC？)

Through a mini survey and games, students understand how coffee are produced and farmers are exploited. It brings out the benefits of fair trade.

http://www.fairtradehk.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Coffee-Trade-ABC.pdfOnly Chinese version is available.

Economic Globalization and Coffee Trade learning materials produced by Oxfam (Published in 2013)

(樂施會編製經濟全球化與咖啡貿易教材 ) (2013年出版)

The learning material is produced by Oxfam. It contains cases on multinational corporation and coffee trade. It discusses the issue of unfair trade under economic globalisation, and the importance of fair trade.

https://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/tc/curriculum-development/kla/pshe/references-and-resources/life-and-society/coffee_l&t_suggestion.pdfOnly Chinese version is available.

3. The Hunger BanquetTeacher can organise a ‘Hunger Banquet’ to let students experience how resources are unevenly distributed in the world. Student will then have a more profound understanding in the circumstances of the poor. (Teacher can utilise appendix 6 for students’ reflection. Teacher should encourage them to make a pledge to cherish what they possess and care for people in need.)

Appendix 1Warm up Activity

Discuss with your groupmates with reference to the information below about the eating culture in Hong Kong.

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ABC Hotel All day buffetAn elaborate selection of international dishesChefs present a tempting array of Western and Asia dishes and home-made desserts

……

……

…………

The Rich and the Poor Learning and Teaching Activities

Appendix 2What is Poverty?

Answer the following questions, according to your perceptions.

1) In general, do you think Hong Kong is a rich or poor city? Write down your reasons in space below.

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Hey! What shall we eat after visiting the theme park?

I really can’t decide. I will let you all make the choice.

I have spent a lot of money on buying games recently. I want something cheap. How about Big Big Family?

Yeah! It has food from different countries, and its value for money at $50 each!

‘Big Big Family Fast Food Shop’New Zealand Sirloin Steak & Deep Fried Shrimp Sizzling PlateSlow-cooked Beef Brisket CurryDouble Baked Double DelicaciesTiger Prawn, Seafood & Grain-fed Beef Assorted Hot PotDanish Premium Pork Hot PotBBQ Pork with Rice & VegetablesShanghai Style Spare Ribs RiceSpaghetti Bolognese with Fried EggRoasted Chicken with BBQ Sauce Combo

The Rich and the Poor Learning and Teaching Activities

2) What is ‘poverty’? Think of 3 adjectives/words to describe poverty. Write one that best describes poverty on the blackboard.

Appendix 3Video clip watching

Name: Note/ReflectionRTHK, Rich Mate Poor Mate Series III: Michael Tien (2011-02-16)

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The Rich and the Poor Learning and Teaching Activities

Watch the video clip and answer the following questions1) Which of the following reason(s) leads to poverty for the individual/ family? Answer with or

and explain your choices.

2) After watching the video clip, do you think Hong Kong is a city of rich, poor or having a huge wealth disparity? Put a ‘’in the appropriate circle and explain your reasons.

Appendix 4Teachers’ reference – ‘Gini coefficient’

The Gini coefficient is used to measure the income distribution of a nation’s residents. In general, it is between 0 to 1; the greater the number, the greater the gap between the rich and poor. In the Hong Kong 2016 Population By-census - Thematic Report ： Household Income Distribution in Hong Kong, Hong Kong is at 0.539 – a 45-year high.

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RichPoor

Disparity between the rich and the poor

Personal (i.e. personality)

Family (i.e. family background)

Economics (i.e. income, cost of living)

Social (i.e. housing, education, social welfare,

equal opportunities)Political (i.e.

government policies)

The Rich and the Poor Learning and Teaching Activities

The Hong Kong Government uses the concept of Relative Poverty, and defines the Poverty Line as half of the median monthly household income of all domestic households in Hong Kong, prior to government intervention like tax and social benefits transfers (Hong Kong Poverty Situation Report 2016, P.87). This is a policy tool to the government understand the situation, to guide policy planning and evaluate its effectiveness. The numbers of poor households, the sizes of the poor population and the poverty rates before policy intervention in 2016 are 0.582 million households, 1.352 million persons and 19.9% (Hong Kong Poverty Situation Report 2016, P.52).

Figure 1: The monthly income below the Poverty Line in 2016

Number of person in a poor household 1 2 3 4 5 Above 6

The monthly income of poor household living under the

poverty line (pre-intervention)

$4,000 $9,000 $15,000 $18,500 $19,000 $20,000

Sources:1. Census and Statistics Department, Press Release - Census and Statistics Department announces

results of study on household income distribution in Hong Kong [9 Jun 2017],https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/press_release/pressReleaseDetail.jsp?charsetID=1&pressRID=4180

2. Census and Statistics Department，Hong Kong Poverty Situation Report 2016,https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp461.jsp?productCode=B9XX0005

Appendix 5Fair Trade

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Coffee is a popular beverage around the world. In Hong Kong, coffee shops are found everywhere. Around 100 million people in the world earn their living from coffee related industry, including 25 million coffee farmers.

The Rich and the Poor Learning and Teaching Activities

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There are 150 steps to turn tiny coffee beans into a cup of aromatic coffee. The following is a simplified

coffee supply chain:

Can you name some coffee roasters?

Farmers grow coffee

Inland buyers buy and process and make them into green coffee beans. Exporters buy

green coffee beans and sell them to Importers

Importers ship the beans out to roasters. Many roasters are multinational companies.

Multinational roasters process, pack and resell the coffee beans to retailers.

Affecting the coffee acquisition price for buyers and exporters

Multinational roasters may reach a deal on the Future Markets which affects the market price of coffee

The Future Market of coffee

Retailers sell coffee products to consumers

The Rich and the Poor Learning and Teaching Activities

Challenging task：If the retail price of a bottle of 100g instant coffee is $20.5. Estimate the income distribution of the 4 stakeholders below. Give reasons to support your answers.

As seen from the above, the income distribution of coffee trade is unfairly distributed. Farmers work hard to earn little money for their living. Why couldn’t farmers set a higher price for their coffee beans? List 3 possible reasons.

Do you think you can do something to protect the farmers from exploitation? Write down a possible way below.

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Stakeholders in a coffee supply chain

Income earn through trading coffee (%) (Draw their proportion below)

1. Farmers

2. Local exporters

3. Multinational roasters

4. Retailers

1.

2.

3.

The Rich and the Poor Learning and Teaching Activities

Appendix 6

The Hunger Banquet – Reflection and Pledge

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My feeling after participating the Hunger Banquet

Name： ______________________________________

Class： ______________________________________

Group assigned to: The poor / The rich (Circle the group) (______________________________________

我被分配的工作 / 娛樂：__________________________________

My feeling after participationMy feeling after participation ：（：（ How do How do you feelat this moment?you feelat this moment? ））

Take actions:Take actions:

Sign the PledgeSign the Pledge

Write down your Write down your actions of careactions of care

Care and Cherish

The Rich and the Poor Learning and Teaching Activities

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Pledge to reduce food waste

From now on, I (Name)＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ shall develop a habit of reducing food waste. I will:(Put a in the appropriate ， you may choose more than one.) Finish all my food (Or store leftovers properly in the fridge) Check the fridge regularly to finish the leftovers ， Always share food with my friends ， Not to order/ buy too much food for each meal ， Others ，，，，，，，，，，，，，，

Your signature ，，，，，，，，，，Your witness’s signature ，，，，，，，，，，

(Invite your parents/guardians to be your witness)

Date ， ____/_____/2018 dd mm

Setting targets of Caring for others

Whom will you show your care to in the next week? How will you do that? (Write down your action in details. You may show it in drawing below.)

Show your care by cheering your friend up.

Show your care by inviting your friends to share their happiness with you.

Show your care by giving your friends timely encouragement.

Caring is listening to your friends who share their worries with you.

Caring is helping your friend in many ways whenever they are in need.