Lesson Plan

Food Group Sort

Overview

Children learn about food groups as they are described and displayed on the US Department of Agriculture's food pyramid.

Objective

New York State PreK-K Health Education Learning Standards:
1.2.1. Identify that healthy behaviors affect personal health.
2.2.1. Identify how the family influences personal health practices and behaviors.
5.2.1. Identify situations when a health-related decision is needed.
6.2.1. Identify a short-term personal health goal and take action toward achieving the goal.
7.2.1. Demonstrate healthy practices and behaviors to maintain or improve personal health.
7.2.2. Demonstrate behaviors that avoid or reduce health risks.

Students will:

  • Study healthy and unhealthy foods
  • Learn the basic food groups
  • Practice sorting
  • Learn about the importance of health and nutrition
  • Develop healthy eating habits

Materials

  • Foods and/or empty packages from each food group
  • Big, deep cloth, paper or plastic bags that will hold all of the food for the sort.
  • Signage/Pictures for the food groups that will be placed on the floor for the sort.

Directions

  1. Review the food groups with the children by looking at the signage on the floor.
  2. Ask 2-5 children at a time to take two foods out of the bag. Sort them on the floor and return to their seats.
  3. After all of the food has been sorted, Go to each food group and ask the children "Which food does not belong in this group?"
  4. Discuss the foods, the groups and correct the sort, when necessary.

Supporting All Learners

Explain the differences between the groups. Give multiple examples for each food group. Ask the learners to think of something that they ate the day before or that week that would fit in the groups.

Lesson Extensions

Let the children play the food sort on their own during their free time. Give them the option of drawing different foods or bringing packaging from home so that they can do their version of the sort.

Home Connection

  • Students and parents can sort/categorize foods in home refrigerators and cupboards or sort favorite foods or snacks.
  • Students and their parents can explore the website http://www.mypyramid.gov/

Assess Students

It is important that the children engage in the activity. It is fun and will help initiate group discussions on the topic.

  1. Observe and record the student's ability to sort like foods.
  2. Observe and record the student's level of engagement throughout the duration of the activity. Was the student highly engaged, moderately engaged or not engaged in class discussions and activities. Was the child able to maintain his or her attention through the post-sort discussion and review?
  3. Observe and record whether it was easy or difficult for the student to follow the directions given.

  • Subjects:
    Cooking, Health and Safety, Food and Nutrition
  • Duration:
    2 Weeks
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