Standard of Learning

K.1 The student will explain that the body is a living and growing organism. Key concepts/ skills include:

1. the importance of making healthy food choices (e.g., eating a variety of foods from all food groups, eating breakfast, choosing healthy snacks, eating at least five fruits and vegetables a day);
2. the effects of drugs and medicines on the body;
3. the five senses (e.g., sight, sound, smell, taste, touch) and major body parts (e.g.,head,  trunk, arms, legs, hands, feet);
4. the need for regular physical activity.

<< Back to Index

Understanding the Standard

The student will identify and understand the importance of making healthy food choices.

Essential Knowledge and Skills

The student will:

• define diet. (foods that you usually eat)
• identify food groups. (foods that are alike)
• describe food guide pyramid. (guide that tells you how many servings you need in a day from each food group)
• list the five healthful food groups. (bread, cereal, rice, and pasta group; fruit group; vegetable group; meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, and nuts group; and milk, yogurt, and cheese group)
• explain why you should eat few fats, oils, and sweets. (eat few fats and oils because they block blood vessels, and few sweets because they cause cavities)
• why you should eat foods from each food group. (different foods give your body energy to move, think, and grow)
  

Sample Lessons

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner with Gregory
Grades K-2
Create a nutritious breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and feed Gregory the goat.
Sponsor: Ask ERIC Lesson Plan
Three class periods
http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans - health - nutrition
Free

Dole's Five A Day Lesson Plans
Covers food journals, new fruits and vegetables, measuring portions, and where plants grow. Linked with reading/language arts, math, history, social science, science, geography, health, art/music/dance, agriculture, technology, home school, community service learning, and recognition curricula standards.
Sponsor: Dole
http://www.dole5aday.com
Free

Elementary Interdisciplinary Curriculum: Every Day, Lots of Ways (EDLOW)
Grades: K-1, 5 A Day for Better Health (focus - five fruits and vegetables a day)
Curriculum to promote healthy food choices.
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Education
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/food_nutrition/cwp

Five A Day The Color Way - "There's a Rainbow on My Plate"
Grades K-6 (K-3, 4, 5, 6)
Encourages students to eat more fruits and vegetables each day through a variety of lessons & activity sheets. Teacher’s guide, take home literature, recipes.
Sponsor: Dole Food Company
http://www.5aday.com
Free

Food and Me
Grades preK-K
Activity-based program to build skills and motivate students to make healthy food choices. Each kit includes teaching guide, videos, magazines, family newsletter, posters, and worksheets. Produced in 1995.
Sponsor: USDA
http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/educators/scholastic.html
+Cost

Food Pyramid Game
Grade(s): K-5
This game is for elementary aged kids.  It is meant to familiarize them with the food pyramid.
http://www.theteacherscorner.net/lesson-plans/health/food-pyramid-game.htm
Free

Good and Healthy Snacks - Kindergarten
Grade K
Students sing and dance to a rap song about eating five fruits and vegetables a day.
Sponsor: Ask ERIC Lesson Plan
One class period
http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans - health - nutrition
Free

The Great Body Shop
Grades preK-6
Evaluated program
Encourages students to make life-long healthy choices including healthy nutrition and physical activity. Comprehensive health education program. Topics include:
--Critical thinking
--Life skills
--Health values
Available in English and Spanish; parent bulletins in seven languages
Sponsor: The Children’s Health Market
http://www.thegreatbodyshop.net
+Cost

Health: Winning with Nutrition
Grades preK-2
Look at athletes and what they eat, use food pyramid, taste various foods, and play quiz games.
Sponsor: PBS
Covers one class period but format may be used multiple times to teach new concepts about nutrition and healthy eating, with additional topics included.
http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/prek2/issues/pflesson/health.shtm
Free

Healthy Eating
Grades K-3
To make students aware of ways newspapers can teach about nutrition and good health.
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons
Free

HeartPower
Grades K-2
Teaches students about the heart and how to keep it healthy. Includes physical activity, nutrition, and living tobacco-free. Science-based lessons and handouts.
--What Is the Heart? - lesson idea
--What Does the Heart Do? - lesson idea
--How Does the Heart Work? - lesson idea
--Why Do We Eat Food? - lesson idea (role of nutrients in food)
--Choosing Healthful Foods - lesson idea (encourages children to eat a variety of healthy foods and plan healthy meals)
--"Gimme 5" - lesson idea (encourages children to eat a variety of healthy foods)
--What Is Smoking? - lesson idea
--How Does Physical Activity Help Your Body? - lesson idea (physical activity helps your body grow strong and stay healthy)
--How Muscles Work - activity sheet
--Follow the Blood - activity sheet
--What Foods Do You Need? - activity sheet
--Making Healthful Choices - activity sheet
--Fruits and Vegetables - activity sheet
--Activities for the Heart - activity sheet
--"Take a Look Inside of You" - visual quick activity
Sponsor: American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org (select Heart Power!)
Free

Heart Power
Grade(s): K-4
This tag game is used to reinforce three important ways to keep your heart healthy.
http://www.pecentral.org/lessonideas/ViewLesson.asp?ID=5848
Free

Kindergarten Nutrition Lesson Plan
Grade(s): K
In this lesson Kindergarten students are taught about nutrition through a variety of activities.
http://www.labelsforeducation.com/pdf/nutrition_plan_KGarten.pdf
Free

Mission Nutrition
Grades K-5 (K-1; 2-3; 4-5)
Three units related to promoting healthy body image, healthy eating, and physical activity. Includes lesson plans and student activities.
Sponsor: Dietitians of Canada and Team from Kellogg Canada, Inc.
http://www.missionnutrition.ca/missionnutrition/eng/educators
Free

Nutrition Education - Breakfast
Grade(s): K
Describe and practice responsible behaviors for health and safety.  In this lesson teachers will help students realize why breakfast is important when it comes to health.
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=960
Free

Nutrition Education - What's Nutrition?
Grade(s): K
Describe and practice responsible behaviors for health and safety.  Nutrition - eating the foods our bodies need; keeping our bodies healthy with food.
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=972
Free

Nutrition Unit
Grade(s): PreK-K
In this lesson students will particate in several activities for learning about foods and nutrition to help them learn the importance of nutrition in keeping them healthy.
http://atozteacherstuff.com/pages/244.shtml
Free

Additional Instructional Resources

• American Dietetic Association - http://www.eatright.org
• Community Grocery Stores
• Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children - http://www.cnpp.usda.gov
• "Let's Feed Our Bodies" - http://www.healthteacher.com
• "Let's Get Cooking" - http://healthteacher.com
• Michigan Team Nutrition Booklist - http://www.tn.fcs.msue.msu.edu
• National Dairy Council - http://www.nationaldairycouncil.org
• New York Online Access to Health: NOAH - http://www.noah-health.org

Assessment Ideas

The student will:

• create a mobile or poster of the five healthy food groups.
  
• create a pyramid of foods they should have in their diet.
  
• set goals to eat more of the foods that their bodies need to grow.
  
• explain why breakfast is important and plan a breakfast that includes all the food groups.
  
• plan a healthy snack party.

TOP...