permaculture

142 Facilitator’s Handbook for Permaculture Workshops

Creative thinking : What are GMOs?

Method : Participatory game

Tools : Game cards as described below

References : IDEP GMO Fact Sheet No. 1 – What do you know about GMO?

Objective : Participants learn how GMOs are made

Preparation

Prepare and hand out the GMO Fact Sheet No. 1 to all the participants.

Take 12 pieces of paper or card and draw the following on the front of each of the cards:

• 2 cards – Chicken - on the back write 4, 5.


• 2 cards – Bacteria - on the back write 2, 3.


• 2 cards – Fish - on the back write 1, 4.


• 2 cards – Corn - on the back write 3, 5.


• 2 cards – Tomato - on the back write 1, 6.


• 2 cards – Soybeans - on the back write 2, 6.

Running this exercise

• Hand out the cards to the participants.


• Talk about reproduction in nature – what can reproduce with what? Plant with
  plant, animal with animal, etc.


• Then get more specific i.e. not all plants can breed with all other plants, not all
  animals can breed with all other animals – ask the participants to give some
  examples of this fact.


• Ask the participants with the same pictures to pair up - reiterate this is what
  generally happens in nature.


• Then ask the participants to pair up with someone who has the same number on
  the back of the card as them. Talk about the combinations that are now possible
  with GMO.


• Explain that numbers 1, 2, and 3 are real examples of GMOs today.


• Explain that numbers 4, 5, and 6 are NOT real examples but they could be in the
  future especially if there is an economic reason to do so.


• Collect the cards and hand out or discuss the IDEP GMO Fact Sheet No. 1.

EXERCISE

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