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Grade: Elementary
Subject: Health

#1673. A Poem with Health and Nutrition

Health, level: Elementary
Posted Tue Nov 7 08:05:03 PST 2000 by Molly Foreback (m4back@hotmail.com).
IUP, Indiana, PA USA
Materials Required: see lesson
Activity Time: 45 minutes
Concepts Taught: To Teach the importance of nutrition through nursery rhymes.

LESSON OBJECTIVES

1. TLW identify the four basic food groups.

2. TLW read and analyze the food pyramid chart.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS

* student nutrition log
* food pyramid charts
* paper plates
* markers

Weisgard, Leonard. (1978). Jack Sprat. Chicago, IL: The How and Why Library: Poems and Rhymes. vol. 1.

CONCEPTS

Jack Sprat is a rhyme that can be used to teach kids about the importance of good nutrition.

Kids need at least the minimal servings of each of the food groups everyday.

Kids need at least 6 servings from the bread group, 3 from the vegetable group, 2 from the fruit group, 2 from the dairy group, and 2 from the meat group.

Fats and sweets should be used sparingly.
PROCEDURES

A. Introduction and Motivation

Teacher reads the poem Jack Sprat o the class

Jack Sprat could eat no fat.
His wife could eat no lean.
And so betwixt the two of them,
They licked the platter clean.

B. Lesson Body

A Poem With Health and Nutrition

T: Teacher splits students up into pairs, and has them jot down some foods that Jack and his wife should eat to be healthier. You have 15 minutes.

Teacher walks around the room to encourage ideas. She helps students come up with a healthy list of foods that Jack and his wife should eat. At the end of the 15 minutes, she hands out a food pyramid guide and have students compare their list with the food pyramid guide.

Teacher has the class study the food pyramid guide and create a meal for Jack and his wife. Each student will include all four food groups, and have the right number of servings for each food group. Teacher will then give each student a paper plate and markers to draw a picture of their meal on the plate. Each student will share their meal with the rest of the class.

C. Closure

Teacher reviews with the class the importance of eating healthy by having students call out the four food groups. Students will tell the teacher how many servings each should have. They will also list some foods for each of the four food groups. To wrap up the lesson, teacher have each student write down everything that they eat in one week. After the week is up, teacher has students compare what they ate with what is on the food pyramid to see how healthy they are eating.