Third Grade Curriculum Resources
Standard of Learning
3.1 The student will explain that health habits impact personal growth and development. Key concepts/skills include:
- food and beverage choices based on nutritional content;
- the benefits of physical activity and personal fitness;
- safe and harmful behaviors;
- positive interaction with family, peers, and other individuals.
Understanding the Standard
The student will understand that making good food choices based on nutritional content will positively impact their growth and development.
Essential Knowledge and Skills
The student will:
- define nutrients. (materials in food that are used by the body)
- define vitamins. (nutrients that help your body use proteins, carbohydrates, and fats)
- define minerals. (nutrients that help with the body's chemical processes and are needed for muscles and nerves to work - important minerals are calcium, phosphorus, and iron)
- identify the importance of water. (a nutrient needed by all body fluids and cells, and used for body processes such as digestion)
- define proteins. (nutrients needed to build, grow, and repair body cells)
- describe foods that we need for proper nutrition. (use the food guide pyramid)
- identify how to make wise food choices. (by understanding the food guide pyramid and checking the ingredients and nutritional information on the food labels)
Sample Lessons
Oral Health Education: Saving Smiles Series- “Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body”
Grade: 3
Lesson Plan (1) Develop an awareness of how the nutrient content of food and beverages affects body systems and can improve personal health. (SOL 3.1a, 3.4 a,b,c)
Lesson Plan (2) Describe the effects of nicotine products, including smokeless tobacco products, on body systems and the oral cavity. (SOL 3.3c)
Sponsor: Virginia Department of Health, Division of Dental Health
Contact: http://www.vahealth.org/teeth/OralHealthEducation.asp (curriculum resources)
Free
Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH)
Grades 3-5 (Hearty Heart and Friends - 3rd grade; Go For Health - 4th and 5th grades; and Facts for 5 - 5th grade)
*Evaluated program with mixed results
Coordinated effort between classroom, cafeteria, and physical education to decrease fat, saturated fat, and sodium in students' diets; increase physical activity; and prevent tobacco use.
Sponsor: Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH)
http://www.sph.uth.tmc.edu/chppr/catch/and http://www.flaghouse.com
+Cost
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
Don't Buy It - Get Media Smart!
Discusses advertisements and marketing. Students design a cereal box; graph data; complete nutritional comparisons; and use statistics to sell a product.
Sponsor: PBS
Six class periods
http://pbs.org/teachersource (select Health & Fitness - Grades 3-5 - safety)
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 and activity sheets. Teacher's guide, take home literature, recipes.
Sponsor: Dole Food Company
http://www.5aday.com
Free
The Food Groups: Food Pyramid
Grades 3-5
Students learn about the five food groups and how to use the food pyramid as their guide.
Sponsor: Ask ERIC Lesson Plan
Two classes
http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans - health - nutrition)
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 Works
Grades 3-5
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
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
Gregory, The Terrible Eater
Grades 3-4
Students demonstrate understanding of balanced meals and food sources from the various food groups. Construct healthy menus and determine costs of the foods. Based on the book Gregory, The Terrible Eater.
Sponsor: Ask ERIC Lesson Plan
One class period
http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans - health - nutrition)
Free
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
Healthy Eating: An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan
Grade(s): K-3rd
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
Healthy Weights for Healthy Kids
Grades 3-6
Addresses healthy eating, physical activity, and positive body image for children. Discusses healthy food, drink, and snack choices; physical activity options; and positive body image.
Sponsor: Virginia Cooperative Extension
Contact Local County Extension Office
Free
HeartPower
Grades 3-5
Teaches students about the heart and how to keep it healthy. Includes physical activity, nutrition, and living tobacco-free. Science-based.
--Healthy-Heart Menus Quick Activity (Children create a one-minute television feature called "The Healthy-Heart Minute.")
--Target: No Smoking Game
--A Bunch of Reasons Not to Smoke Quick Activity
--Stand and Deliver Game
--What Does the Heart Do? - lesson idea
--How Does Blood Circulate? - lesson idea
--How Do Foods Help Our Bodies? - lesson idea (Encourages students to eat a variety of healthy foods. Describes various nutrients.)
--How Do You Choose Snacks and Other Foods? - lesson idea (Discusses factors influencing why students choose the foods they do. Activity sheets.)
--How Does Physical Activity Help You? - lesson idea (Discusses factors that influence students' choices about physical activity.)
--How Can You Stay Fit? - lesson idea (Discusses peer influences on personal health decisions related to fitness. Discusses heart-healthy fitness. Activity sheet. "What's Your Activity IQ?")
--"Smoking in the Cellar" - lesson idea
--Label the Heart's Parts - activity sheet
--What's in Foods? - activity sheet
--Be Choosy! - activity sheet
--Rate that Snack! - activity sheet
Sponsor: American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org
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
Nutrition 3: Got Broccoli?
Grade(s): 3-5
In this lesson students will understand why the body needs food, and how it takes necessary nutrients as food passes through the digestive system.
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?BenchmarkID=6&DocID=58
Free
Nutrition Education - Balance Equals Beauty
Grade(s): 3
Eating a balanced diet with a variety of nutritious foods is necessary for growth, energy, to help us do well in school, and be healthy. Children who do not get healthy foods to eat are more susceptible to illness, which causes them to miss school frequently.
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=974
Free
Nutrition Education - Evaluating Your Diet
Grade(s): 3
The students will understand how a healthy diet and exercise can increase the likelihood of physical and mental wellness. This lesson must be completed as a group. The children have a hard time remembering the foods they have eaten. Each child will need two handouts; one for school use and one for home use.
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=966
Free
Nutrition Education - Plan to Balance
Grade(s): 3
The students will understand how a healthy diet and exercise can increase the likelihood of physical and mental wellness by planning a balanced evening meal.
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=965
Free
Nutrition Education - Nutrients
Grade(s): 3
The students will understand how a healthy diet and exercise can increase the likelihood of physical and mental wellness by ;earning about nutrients.
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=967
Free
Nutrition - Food Pyramid Book and Game: An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan
Grade(s): 2-6
To better understand the food pyramid and healthy food choices students will make a food pyramid and play a game in this lesson.
http://www.eduref.org//cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Health/Nutrition/NUT0005.html
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
Nutrition lesson plans - fun hands on activities
Grade(s): 3-5
Students learn about the four food groups by cutting pictures of food out of newspapers to make projects.
http://www.education-world.com/a_tsl/archives/99-1/lesson0030.shtml
Free
Nutrition Unit
Grade(s): 3-5
In this lesson students will choose a normal meal from a fast food restaurant. After discussing their choices, they will then analyze the nutrition and lack of nutrition in their meal.
http://www.theteacherscorner.net/lesson-plans/health/nutritionunit.htm
Free
Nutritious and Delicious: An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan
Grade(s): 3-4
Nutrition is the key to feeling good about yourself. This lesson will allow students to study the five food groups and to learn about delicious, healthy foods. At the end of this lesson students will talk about different foods that are healthy. The last day of the lesson they will have a fun day and sample nutritious and delicious foods.
http://www.eduref.org/Virtual/Lessons/Health/Nutrition/NUT0008.html
Free
Planning a Healthy Menu Using the Food Pyramid: An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan
Grade(s): 3-8
This lesson requires students to use their knowledge of the food groups to plan a healthy meal. The meal needs to include an entree, at least one side dish, and beverage. This lesson is an excellent culminating activity for a nutrition unit.
http://www.eduref.org/Virtual/Lessons/Health/Nutrition/NUT0009.html
Free
Popcorn Nutrition
Grade(s): 3-8
Students will compare nutrition levels of snack foods and correctly calculate differences in nutritional value.
http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/03/lp324-04.shtml
Free
Salad Party
Grades 3-4
Students learn what part of plants are eaten as vegetables; taste new vegetables; and make a salad.
Sponsor: Ask ERIC Lesson Plan
One class period
http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans - health - nutrition)
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
Additional Instructional Resources
- Review 2.2a
- Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children - http://www.cnpp.usda.gov
- The Fruit Group - http://www.healthteacher.com
- Good Food Choices - http://www.neatsolutions.com
- Grab a Grape - Nutrition Cafe - http://www.exhibits.pacsci.org/nutrition
- Have A Bite - Nutrition Cafe - http://www.exhibits.pacsci.org/nutrition
- Leafy Greens - http://www.leafy-greens.org
- Michigan Team Nutrition Booklist - http://www.tn.fcs.msue.msu.edu
- Nutrients and Food Groups - http://www.healthteacher.com
- Nutrition Sleuth - Nutrition Cafe - http://www.exhibits.pacsci.org/nutrition
- Our Bodies Need Water - http://www.healthteacher.com
Assessment Ideas
The student will:
- evaluate the nutritional content of their lunch using the food guide pyramid.
- list and explain the benefits of several vitamins and minerals.
- identify why we need proteins in our diet.
- describe why drinking plenty of water is so important.
- plan a meal that is high in calcium and iron.
- compare the nutritional content of two food items by using the food labels.
- design a meal that uses all the food groups from the food pyramid.
- make a bulletin board of the food guide and have students fill in each category with pictures of foods.
