Lesson Plan #: AELP-NUT0010
Submitted by: Kia Sanden
Endorsed by: Don Descey
Mankato State University Date: May 14, 1997

Grade Level(s): 2

Subject(s):

• Health/Nutrition

Description:

This lesson familiarizes students with the food pyramid. It will get the students involved with deciding which food group a particular food item falls into and why.

Goal: The students will understand the use of the food pyramid.

Objectives:

1. The students will list the 5 food groups on a sheet of paper.

2. The students will identify and categorize different types of foods into their proper food groups.

Background Information:

This lesson can be used to recognize the relationship between personal health behaviors and individual health behaviors.

Concepts:

The students will be able to:

1. Distinguish the difference between the 5 food groups.

2. Identify reasons why a particular food item is healthy.

Materials:

• The Food Pyramid
• Tape
• Envelopes
• 2 Paper Bags
• 2 Sets of Index Cards (Each set a different color)
• Markers or chalk

Procedure: 1. The teacher will draw the food pyramid on the chalkboard, labeling each space with the proper food group name and the number of servings needed each day.

2. An envelope will be taped inside each area of the pyramid.

3. The teacher will write the names of different types of foods on the index cards (twice-one on each set of colored index cards).

4. Each set of index cards will be placed into 2 paper bags in front of the room.

5. Divide the class into 2 teams. Each team will line up in single file. When the teacher says go the first person in each line goes to the paper bag and draws an index card with a name of a food. He/she then goes to the chalkboard and sticks the card into the corresponding envelope in one of the food groups. Once the first person was done, the second person in line would do the same thing. This would continue until one team used all their index cards. This team would earn 15 points. The other team would earn 10 points.

6. The envelopes are now checked to be sure that the foods were placed in the correct food group. Each team will get 2 points for each properly placed food item (the team is determined by the color of the index card). But, on the other hand, an incorrectly placed card will result in the team losing 2 points. While doing this the teacher should be reviewing the information with the students.

Assessment:

1. Ask the students why this lesson related to nutrition.

2. Ask the students whether or not they thought nutrition was important.

Reference:

Meeks, L., Heit, P., & Page, R. Comprehensive School/Health Education: Totally Awesome Strategies for Teaching Health: 2nd Edition; 1996, pp. 432-434.Meeks Heit Publishing Company, Inc.