Name:  Ms. Megan Cercone                                                                  Grade Level:  Third Grade

Date:  October 20, 2004                                                                        Lesson Title:  Why Should

                                                                                                                                We Eat Healthy? 

 

 

Pennsylvania Standard for Health Education:

10.1.3.C – Explain the role of the food guide pyramid in helping people eat a healthy diet.

·        Food groups

·        Number of servings

·        Variety of food

·        Nutrients

 

National Standard for Health Education:

      1.   Students will comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention.

3. Students will demonstrate the ability to practice health-enhancing behaviors and reduce health risks.

5. Students will demonstrate the ability to use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health.
6. Students will demonstrate the ability to use goal-setting and decision-making skills to enhance health.

 

I.          Behavioral Objectives:

 

A.       Cognitive:  After the class discussion, the student will be able to identify between a healthy and unhealthy food or drink based on the foods and drinks discussed in class.

 

B.      Affective:  After the class discussion, the student will be able to recognize the importance of eating adequate amounts of fruits, vegetables, and grains.

 

C.      Psychomotor:  Within a group of two, the student will be able to create a list that includes healthy foods and drinks for making after-school snacks.

 

II.        Materials Needed for the Lesson:

 

            -poster of the Food Guide Pyramid

            -18 pieces of different colored paper (8’11”)

            -18 different colored markers

            -handout of fruits/vegetables/grains importance

 

III.       Procedures:

 

A.     Introduction:  (3-5 minutes)

 

·           Introduce teachers

·           Begin by quickly reviewing each division of the Food Guide Pyramid

·           Ask the class to share what their favorite snack is and where they think it falls under the Food Guide Pyramid – teacher writes snacks up on chalkboard.

·           Ask the class, by a show of hands, how many people think that they follow the correct amount of servings that the pyramid suggests.

·           Explain to the students that the teachers are here today to explain why it is essential to receive the right amount of fruits, vegetables, and grains that the food pyramid suggests, and why we should limit our intake of sweets that have added sugars to them.

 

B.     Lesson Body:  (15-20 minutes)

 

·        Pass out handout to students

·        Review why nutrients, vitamins, and minerals are good for our bodies:

 

-nutrients – chemical components that provide energy, help us grow and maintain body tissue, and regulate body temperature

 

-vitamins – transform foods into energy, help to protect the body, regulate body functions, and help the body defend against infections

 

-minerals – help to rebuild body tissue

 

·        Ask the students if they know why a fruit is a healthy food to eat?  A vegetable?  A whole grain?

·        Explain to them that the handout that they received explains why they are healthy and important foods to eat. (refer to handout)

·        Begin with fruits on handout – read down through the category, giving a brief explanation of each characteristic listed.

·        Ask them if they can name any more fruits that are not listed on the handout.

·        Do the same for vegetables and whole grains

·        At the bottom of the handout, go over why we should limit our intake of added sugar in foods and drinks like soda pop, fruit punch, cakes, cookies, candy, and ice cream:

 

-Foods and drinks like these have added sugar to them, which does not supply us with many nutrients or vitamins that are good for our bodies.

 

-A lot of the times, these foods are high in fat and added sugar, which cause us to gain weight.  If we eat or drink too much of these things, our teeth can begin to breakdown as well.  (ex. – After-taste that you have in your mouth after eating a candy bar – that sugar stays in there and sits on your teeth – after awhile, the sugar breaks down your teeth.)

 

-Inform the students that it is alright, however, to eat these foods in moderation (ask class if they know what moderation means – explain if they do not know

*moderation = to keep within limits; nothing extreme; every now and then

 

-Use these “treats” as a reward for eating healthy

(ex. – eat a good breakfast (bowl of cereal and piece of toast), a good lunch (PB&J sandwich, pretzels, and a banana), and a good dinner (piece of chicken with no skin on it and macaroni and cheese) ---say it is okay to have a chocolate chip cookie for dessert).

 

·        Activity

 

-         Now that the students have been taught the difference between a healthy food and an unhealthy food, ask them to work with a partner to come up with two healthy snacks that they could eat after school.

-         To pair up the students, have the 2^nd, 4^th, and 6^th rows work with the person sitting to their left – depending on how many students there are in the class today, there may be a group of three.

-         Each pair of students will receive one piece of colored paper and two markers.

-         Have the students fold their paper in half.

-         Each student will get a side to draw a healthy snack they would like to eat.

-         Next to each drawing, have the students write out what foods go in to making their snack.  (ex. – apple with chunky peanut butter and a glass of low fat milk - list apples, chunky peanut butter, low fat milk)

-         As the class continues to draw, ask them some of the snacks they are drawing.

-         The teacher will list these snacks on the chalkboard next to the snacks they had named at the beginning of class.

-         Compare the two lists with the class.  (Ask the class if they think they are better, worse, or the same.)

 

C.     Concluding Activities (3-5 minutes)

 

·        Ask the class why healthy foods are good for us.

(High/low in vitamins? – high

High/low in minerals? – high

Do they have high/low fat? – low)

·        Ask the class some examples of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

(Fruits – apples, oranges, bananas, grapes, tomatoes

Vegetables – green peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery

Whole grains – bread, cereal, rice, crackers

·        Ask the class what was one main reason why we should eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains?  (Protect us from getting sick.)

·        Ask the class if added sugars in foods and drinks like soda pop and cookies is good for us.  (No.)

·        Ask the class one new snack they would like to try.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IV.       Evaluation: