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Teaching Nutrition Using the Food Guide Pyramid
Second graders explore how to make healthy eating choices. There are goals included for students to meet by the end of fifth grade.
Agriculture in the Classroom
Pumpkins... Not Just For Halloween
Celebrate fall with four pumpkin themed hands-on activities! After learning about pumpkins, scholars complete two activity sheets that reinforce estimation and word problems. They then plant pumpkin seeds and bake a pie in...
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Food Classification
Learners are introduced to classification and some of the difficulties surrounding classification and how classification systems need to be able to adapt and how they may need to be changed when new information is discovered. They...
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Food Contributions
Fourth graders make an alphabet book. In this food contributions lesson students identify foods first harvested by indigenous people. Students use the different foods that are still eaten today that were first harvested by indigenous...
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Measuring Calories in Food
Students measure the amount of calories in food. In this food energy instructional activity, students discuss what a calorie is, how our bodies use a calorie, and how many we need. Then, students use a calorimeter to calculate the amount...
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Steps to a Healthier You
Students explore the food pyramid. In this dietary health activity, students examine the food pyramid on the MyPyramid.gov website and discuss healthy eating strategies. There are various links to websites in this activity.
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St. Patrick's Day Snack
First graders decide on and prepare a nutritious snack that is green.
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When Something's Missing: Diagnosing Vitamin Deficiencies
The New York Times "Education" section posts an extensive lesson on vitamin and mineral deficiencies. It involves class discussion, examination of food packaging labels, and the reading of a blog post about Vitamin D. The highlight of...
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Animals on the Farm
Young scholars work in groups to create a description of a farm animal. Other classmates try to guess the animal. The class discusses what farmers need to provide for each animal on their farm (food, shelter, veterinary care). Students...
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Food Pyramid
Second graders explain the food pyramid, nutrients provided by each food group,and determine whether they are healthy eaters. They note what foods are in this group, what nutrients are found in these foods, and number of servings needed.
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Nutrition: Why do we need rice in our diet?
Second graders discover what the Food Guide Pyramid represents. In this health lesson, 2nd graders experience the types of foods represented in each of the groups found in the pyramid. As part of this lesson, students discover one food...
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Food Pyramid
First graders examine the different levels of the food pyramid and plan a healthy meal. They discuss the food pyramid and read about nutrition using a variety of resources. Using Kidspiration computer software, they plan a...
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Rate Your Plate
Third graders analyze the nutrients, calories, and food groups using the USDA CNPP website Interactive Healthy Eating Index. They write a summary of their personal findings related to their eating habits - including some ways to improve...
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Get a Feel for Food
Students describe the size, shape and feel of a food hidden in a "feely bag" and then select the Food Model from a group that corresponds to the food. In a tasting party afterwards, they sample the food and describe the color, taste and...
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Nutrition
Third graders explore the components of a balanced diet and practice making healthy diet choices. They discuss health-enhancing choices. Students investigate the food pyramid and how to use it to make educated menu decisions. They...
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Family Life Cycle
Students review the food groups and their placement on the food pyramid. Using the internet, they research the nutritional guidelines for different age groups and compare them. To end the lesson plan, they identify reasons for choosing...
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St. Patrick's Day Snack
First graders design a green snack menu from all four food groups for St. Patrick's Day.
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Quick Breads, Pancake/Waffle Lab
Students explore the bread, cereal, grain food group on the Food Guide Pyramid. They test recipes for quick breads which are high in carbohydrates and determine the purpose of each of the ingredients in pancakes or waffles.
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Casserole Lab
Pupils participate in a lecture and lab explaining the qualities of a casserole, identifying the different kinds, the function of the ingredients and foods used in the preparation of the casserole.
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Get Your Calcium-Rich Foods
Sixth graders explore foods in the dairy group. In this dairy food activity, 6th graders examine the nutritional value of dairy foods and determine the proper number of dairy servings per day. Students also evaluate numerous food labels...
Purdue University
Healthy Body Image: Healthy Exercises for Every Body
From three-way neck rolls to a figure-5 hurdler's stretch, this is an ultimate guide to healthy exercises. It begins with a bulleted list of general guidelines on cardiorespiratory exercise, flexibility, resistance exercises, and range...
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Packaging Tricks
Students become aware of the ways in which packaging is designed to attract kids. In a series of activites, students compare similar food products, assess nutritional value, and participate in field trip to see how packaging affects...
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Blast the Fats
Young scholars examine the fats found in foods. In this nutrition activity, students identify the types and amounts of fats found in foods as they research food labels and the Internet. Young scholars classify the fats and record their...
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Benefits of Nutrients
Explore the nutrients a body needs using this resource. Learners discuss the importance of the relationships between proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water. It's a great way to have your class talk about the healthy...