Grade: 3-5
Subject: Science

#1220. Food Pyramid

Science, level: Elementary
Posted Sun Aug 1 19:45:05 PDT 1999 by Leslie Holl (ljholl@gateway.net).
West Platte R-11, Weston, Mo
Materials Required: grocery sacks & groceries collected by students
Activity Time: one week's time
Concepts Taught: nutrition

During our nutrition unit in 2nd grade, we conduct a food drive for the local food pantry. As the students bring in their contributions, we catagorize it into one of the food groups. We label the grocery sacks appropriately (fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, proteins/meats and others). The students must decide which sack to put each food item in. It is important to stress to the students that the foods must be non-perishables. The students enjoy trying to even out the amounts of foods collected for each sack. Some creative thinking goes on at the grocery store with their parents. After all the food is collected, the food is then donated to the local panty. This is a great learning activity that culminates with the act of giving!