Third Grade Curriculum Resources
Standard of Learning
3.5 The student will explain that customs and traditions may impact community health decisions. Key concepts/skills include:
- dietary customs and practices;
- recreational activities;
- celebrations and traditions.
Understanding the Standard
The student will understand dietary customs and practices, recreational activities, celebrations and traditions that may impact community health decisions.
Essential Knowledge and Skills
The student will:
- define customs. (a practice followed by people of a particular group from different geographic origins, races and ethnicities)
- describe traditions. (time-honored practices)
- define diet. (the foods you usually eat)
- describe recreation. (leisure activities)
- explain celebrations. (special occasions)
- list cultural or customs/traditions which affect:
- dietary practices; (vegetarian, fasting, etc.)
- social practices; (women cannot participate in sports, women cannot participate in activities with men, different dress, etc.)
- participation in physical or recreational activities; (prohibit participation in dance, contact sports, motorized sports, etc. In addition, some religious customs include fasting which could limit participation in physical activities.) and
- health care. (different cultures and religions have diverse health care beliefs and practices – e.g., western medicine, herbalism, acupuncture, medicine-men, etc.)
Sample Lessons
Cooking with Kids Albuquerque
Multicultural food education program to improve students' nutrition by learning about culturally diverse foods that are healthy and appealing. Hands-on approach to cooking, modeling healthy food choices in the classroom and cafeteria while teaching basic cooking skills. Encourages parental involvement. Provides cooking classes to low-income students in summer literacy programs.
Sponsor: Locally and state-funded
E-mail: hopem@doh.state.nm.us
Free
Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger
Grades K-5
International classroom for exploring the problems of hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity.
--What Is Hunger and Who Are the Hungry?
--Why Are People Hungry?
--What Can We Do to Help End Hunger?
Three or more class periods
Contact: http://www.feedingminds.org/level1/pri_level.htm
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 - 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 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 - 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 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
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
Additional Instructional Resources
- Blue Web'n - http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/bluewebn
- CyberBee - http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/MMStocs/MMScybertoc.html
- Elementary Health Lessons - http://www.gsu.edu/~wwwche/elessons.htm
- Internet Detectives - http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/tnl/detectives
- Michigan Team Nutrition Booklist - http://www.tn.fcs.msue.msu.edu
- Texas Department of Health - Kids Corner - http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/kids/default.shtm
- Yahooligans! The Web Guide for Kids - http://www.yahooligans.com
Assessment Ideas
The student will:
- explain different country’s ethnic foods, cultural traditions, celebrations, and recreational activities.
- identify dietary customs and practices, recreational activities, celebrations, and traditions in their community.
