Although crop failures, floods, and other natural disasters contribute to hunger, they are not its root cause. The root cause of hunger is poverty. This guide is designed to have students examine their preconceptions about hunger and to test them against new information. The intent of the lessons is to encourage action, not guilt. Students are introduced to the concept of food as the most basic human need, and they explore differences between wants and needs. The concepts of hunger, malnutrition, and starvation are demonstrated through observation of the growth of a classroom plant. Using a world map, students learn the concepts about developed and developing nations in relation to the division of countries along economic levels. Handouts titled "Statistics on World Hunger" and"World Distribution of Arid Regions" are used to help explain the causes of hunger. To increase understanding of developing nations people, students read the handout "A Day in the Life of a Third World Teenager." The lesson is concluded by discussion of what individuals can do to reduce world hunger. A list of additional resources is included. (SM)