Health Lesson Ideas

Name of Activity: Serves You Right

Purpose of Activity: Students will review food groups and serving sizes outlined by the MyPyramid.gov food pyramid.

Suggested Grade Level: 3-5

Materials Needed: Laminated words of food with different serving sizes on sheets of paper, pencils with erasers, MyPyramid.gov food pyramid handouts with serving sizes, whistle, timer, blank MyPyramid food group coloring sheet

Description of Idea

Variations:

Students will try to complete their food pyramids according to their serving sizes. However, if a student records too much of their serving size, they must perform ten seconds of an exercise (i.e. run in place, jumping jacks, sit ups) to “burn off” one serving of a particular food group.

Place the food squares facedown and when the students flip over a square they must “consume” that food and record it on their sheet. Again, they must perform ten seconds of an exercise to “burn off” any excess servings in a food group.

Assessment Ideas:

Students will complete the MyPyramid food group coloring sheet (found at http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/resources/mpk_coloring.pdf); placing the correct serving sizes in each food group space. Teacher and students will go over the correct serving sizes for each category.

Teaching Suggestions:

Teachers need to discuss safety in the classroom with students as the students may not have enough space to get to the food squares without pushing/bumping other students.