1997-98 Instant Activity Archives

Week 33: April 20-24, 1998

IA Name: Low Fat vs. High Fat Foods

Grade Level: 2-5

Equipment: Cones to mark off activity area, pictures of food dishes mounted on heavy poster board (about 5" X 5" in size)

Directions:

Before students arrive, scatter pictures of different food dishes around the playing area. Make sure they are on fairly heavy paper so they don't blow around and it is probably good to have them laminated.

Have the students find a good self space in the activity area. They should not stand on the pictures on the floor. On the teachers signal, have the students begin to move around general space using any locomotor pattern. When the children hear the signal (i.e., drum beat, music stopping, voice signal) they are to pick up a picture closest to them. After looking at it they need to determine whether or not it is a high or low fat food. After making that decision they are to move through the room in a predetermined locomotor pattern (e.g., high fat means to slide sideways, low fat means to skip forward). (Make sure you go over these meanings prior to playing. May want to list them on the board). They hold their picture above their heads while moving so you can see them.

On your signal they put the picture down, continue to move freely through the general space, and pick up a new picture on your signal.

This is a great way for you to check for nutritional understanding of your students.

Safety Tips:

Encourage students not to fight over the cards when it is time to pick them up. Tell them to be careful when doing so.

Submitted by the Doctoral students in the Health and PE Program at Virginia Tech. These ideas were presented at the Sharing The Wealth Physical Education Conference in Jekyll Island, GA (1996). Thanks for contributing to PE Central!

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