Let's Eat!

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Students will learn about food groups and nutrition.

OBJECTIVE
Students will:

1. Listen to a book.
2. List prior knowledge of foods and nutrition.
3. Sort foods into food groups.
4. Identify foods by listening to clues.

MATERIALS

1. The Edible Pyramid, Good Eating Every Day By Loreen Leedy
2. Staying Healthy: Eating Right by Alice B. McGinty
3. This Is the Way We Eat Our Lunch by Edith Baer
4. Kidspiration by Inspiration Software, Inc. (Mac or PC version), large chart paper, or an idea web (PDF)
5. Computer
6. Large screen TV or projector system
7. Magazines containing many food pictures
8. Large index cards
9. Basket, bowl or can (Either use one for the whole class or have one for each team.)
10. Food Pyramid game board (PDF)

SET UP AND PREPARE

1. Find magazines containing many food pictures.
2. Have Kidspiration ready to use on the computer.
3. Make copies of the Food Pyramid (PDF) game board handout.

REPRODUCIBLES

1. Idea Web (PDF)
   
2. Food Pyramid (PDF)
   

DIRECTIONS
Step 1: As a group, list what the children already know about foods and food groups. I use Kidspiration as a brainstorming tool. I use a computer connected to a large screen TV or projector system so that all students can easily see. If you do not have Kidspiration you could use chart paper or a blackboard.

Step 2: Read Staying Healthy: Eating Right By Alice B. McGinty. As you read discuss the types of foods in the food groups

Step 3: Read The Edible Pyramid, Good Eating Every Day by Loreen Leedy. Talk about pyramids and food pyramids. List other foods that would go in each food group as you read the book.

Step 4: Have the students cut out pictures of foods and glue them on small tagboard cards. They should write the name of the food under its picture and clues describing the food. One clue should refer to the food group. For example: A picture of an apple would have the word apple written under it. Some clues might be: It is red. It grows on a tree. It is in the fruits group.

Step 5: When a student completes a card it is placed in a basket. I like to use a picnic basket. I have each student complete at least three cards making sure that they are from different food groups.

Step 6: When the food cards are complete, give each student a Food Pyramid game board. I have the students work in groups or teams to complete their game board.

Step 7: Draw a food card out of the basket. Read the clues. If the team guesses the food, they color in a circle on their game board. If they do not, another team is allowed to guess. Continue until the students have "eaten" all the servings from each food group.

LESSON EXTENSION
Read This Is the Way We Eat Our Lunch by Edith Baer Explore and write about foods from around the world.

ASSESS STUDENTS
Teacher observation will assess student participation in listening to the book and for completing the three cards, which identify foods from the correct food group.

EVALUATE THE LESSON
How well do the children understand the food groups and nutrition? How many students needed help writing? Was the use of Kidspiration an effective tool for brainstorming? Did the children understand how to play the game? What was the most difficult part of this lesson? What was most successful?

Gayle has been a teacher for 35 years. She has helped teachers throughout the nation learn about technology, the Internet, and creative ways to use both in the classroom.

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