Date: December 3, 1998

Grade Level(s): 3, 4, 5

Subject(s):

• Health/Nutrition

Duration: Two 40-minute sessions

Description: In this activity, students learn about the five food groups and how to use the food pyramid as their guide.

Goals: To learn the basics of good nutrition.

Objectives: The student will be able to:

1. List the 5 food groups that make up the food pyramid.
2. Explain orally and in writing the purpose of the food pyramid.
3. Define and give an example of each food group.
4. Separate a group of mixed food into the proper food groups.

Materials:

• poster of food pyramid
• dictionaries

1. Teacher will hold up a candy bar and an apple and ask students which do they think is better and healthier for their bodies.
2. Teacher will then ask the students if they ever think about what they are putting in their bodies before they eat something.
3. Teacher will then explain that in order to be healthy children should be eating more of certain foods and less of others.
4. Teacher will then list the six categories shown on the food pyramid (5 food groups: grains, protein, dairy, fruits, vegetables; and sweets/fats -- use sparingly) on the board.
5. Teacher will then ask six students to get a dictionary and look up each word, the definitions will then be put on the board.
6. Teacher will then provide many examples and explain why they are examples of each group.
7. Teacher will then display the food pyramid poster located at the front of the room.
8. Teacher will explain to the class the purpose of the food pyramid and tell how many servings of each food should be eaten.
9. Teacher will then hold up more examples and ask what food groups they should be in, either asking if they are in a certain group, or asking what group they should be in a and why. (for example: hold up a bagel and ask if it is in the protein group and why or why not.)
10. Teacher will then restate the definitions and ask the children what they think should be added to the definition and why.
11. The students will then write each definition with 2 examples in their notebooks.

Assessment: Teacher will divide the class into 3 groups and give them each a box of assorted food products; the groups will then divide the products into the correct 6 categories and list them on a separate sheet of paper.