Standard of Learning

2.2 The student will explain that personal health decisions and health habits influence health and wellness throughout life. Key concepts/skills include:

1. how food choices contribute to a healthy lifestyle;
2. the harmful effects of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco;
3. the need for regular health check-ups and screenings;
4. the importance of learning and using refusal skills to make good decisions;
5. the use of nonviolent strategies to resolve conflicts.

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Instructional Strategies

Balanced Meals: An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan
Grade(s): 1-2
As a way to set the stage, the teacher will talk to the students about food. He or she will then ask the students to raise their hands and name their favorite foods. Then he or she will ask them to raise their hands if they like to eat vegetables.  From there students will participate in activities promoting healthy food choices in hopes that they will learn to choose healthier.
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Health/Nutrition/NUT0015.html
Free

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/index.jsp
Free

Education Center Activity: Eat Right!
Grade(s): 1-5
In this lesson students will learn about eating healthy by being taught about the food pyramid and making a collage of healthy food choices.
http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/gen_act/cooking/eatrigh.html
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

5 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 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

Food Time
Grades 1-2
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

Good For You
Grade(s): 2
From this lesson students will learn what nutrients are while at the same time be able to differentiate foods that are good for them and ones  that are not.
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=961
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 Database
Grades 2-5
Students analyze the content of school lunches to see if the lunches are balanced.
Sponsor: Ask ERIC Lesson Plan
Five class periods
http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans - health - nutrition)
Free

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/ (select Health & Fitness - Grades K-2 - Fitness & Nutrition
Free

Healthy Eating: An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan
Grade(s): 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/Health/Nutrition/NUT0004.html
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

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 HeartPower!)
Free

Is it Fruit?
Grades 2-4
Students learn what constitutes a fruit and that only 100% juice should be considered a fruit.
Sponsor: Ask ERIC Lesson Plan
One class period
http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans - health - nutrition)
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/index.html
Free

Nutrition - Food Pyramid Book and Game
Grades 2-6
Students create a food pyramid and classify foods.
Sponsor: Ask ERIC Lesson Plan
One class period
http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans - health - nutrition)
Free

Nutrition Lesson Plan: An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan
Grade(s): 2-3
Students will be able to list the better food choices for a healthy body. Students will then be able to make a menu for a fictitious restaurant that contains good food choices from each of the areas of the Food Pyramid.
http://www.eduref.org/Virtual/Lessons/Health/Nutrition/NUT0007.html
Free

Pyramid Cafe
Grade 2
Program to teach students about healthy eating habits, sound nutrition, and the Food Guide Pyramid. Lessons based on opening a restaurant and teaching other children about good nutrition.
Includes 10 lessons, teacher's guide, workbook for each student, food pyramid poster, handouts, additional activities.
Sponsor: National Dairy Council
http://www.nutritionexplorations.org
Free

Pyramid Relay: An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan
Grade(s): 2
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.
http://www.eduref.org/Virtual/Lessons/Health/Nutrition/NUT0010.html
Free

School Enrichment Nutrition Project
Grades 2-3
Lessons, worksheets, and parent letters to encourage healthy eating.
Sponsor: Virginia Cooperative Extension
Contact: Local County Extension Office
Free

Oral Health Education: Saving Smiles Series- “Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body”
Grade:  2
Lesson Plan (1) Identify the parts of the oral cavity that are involved in the digestive system. (SOL 2.1c)
Lesson Plan (2) Develop an awareness of the long-term effects of choosing nutritious foods and beverages for a healthy life and self image. (SOL 2.2a, 2.3e)
Lesson Plan (3) Describe plaque and its impact on dental diseases and self image.(SOL 2.3c, 2.3e)
Lesson Plan (4) Identify the roles of oral health professionals met during a dental visit. (SOL 2.4a)
Lesson Plan (5) with regular dental check-ups. (SOL 2.2c)
Lesson Plan (6) Describe the effects on the body of using drugs, alcohol and tobacco products. (SOL 2.2b)
Sponsor: Virginia Department of Health, Division of Dental Health
Contact:  http://www.vahealth.org/teeth/OralHealthEducation.asp (curriculum resources)
Free

Additional Instructional Resources

• Review 1.2f
• Figuring Out Food Labels - http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/food/labels.html
• Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children - http://www.cnpp.usda.gov
• "Food Labels" - http://www.healthteacher.com
• "The Fruit Group" - http://www.healthteacher.com
• Michigan Team Nutrition Booklist - http://www.tn.fcs.msue.msu.edu
• "The Most Important Meal of the Day" - http://www.healthteacher.com
• "Nutrients and Food Groups," Grade 2-3 - http://www.healthteacher.com
• New York Online Access to Health - http://www.noah-health.org
• Southeast Dairy Association for Free Student Workbooks - http://www.southeastdairy.org

Assessment Ideas

The student will:

• fill in the food groups on the five tiers of the pyramid.
• keep a record of all the foods they eat in a day and compare their log to the foods on the food guide pyramid.
• plan a healthy meal with pictures of foods pasted on a plate. Make sure all the food groups are represented.

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