Baylor College
What's That Food?
Get things cooking with the first lesson in this series on the science of food. Working in small groups, young scientists make and record observations about different mystery foods. These descriptions are then shared with the class and...
Curated OER
Nutrition
Fourth graders identify food groups, foods that fit into those groups, and look at the nutritional value of each food group. They also discover how to interpret and understand food labels. The whole class makes some burgers and fries,...
Curated OER
Build a Burger
Here is an outstanding instructional activity on food groups, nutrition, and diet. In it, learners focus on hamburgers! They take a close look at the products that go into making a hamburger, conduct taste tests on samples, discuss the...
Baylor College
Food Webs
Explore various ecosystems from around the world as your class discovers the interdependence of all living things. Using the provided sets of ecosystem cards, young scientists work in small groups building food webs to demonstrate the...
Curated OER
Fast Fats: A Nutritional Analysis of America's Obsession with Fast Foods
How do you read a nutritional label? Help high schoolers practice reading nutritional labels on foods so they can calculate the calories in different types of foods. They will also examine the effects of fat on the body and the link to...
Curated OER
My Favorite Breakfast Foods
First graders consider the importance eating breakfast. In this breakfast foods lesson, 1st graders plan meals, examine a variety of breakfast options, and discuss the food groups. Students taste a variety of foods. Extension activities...
Curated OER
Food Pyramid Relay Race
Students explore healthy eating habits by conducting a physical food challenge. In this food pyramid lesson, students identify the main concepts behind the food pyramid and what choices they should be making with their food intake....
Curated OER
Introduction to Nutrition
Fourth graders take a closer look at the foods they eat and the nutritional value of each. This lesson helps them see why foods are grouped together the way they are and what types of nutrition are provided by these food groups. They...
Curated OER
Nutrition Plates
Students investigate healthy eating habits by studying the food pyramid. In this personal health lesson, students write a recipe for a healthy meal including one item from each section of the four food groups. Students utilize images...
John Hopkins University
Diets and Influence on Food Choice
From start to finish, this is a truly excellent lesson plan addressing the epidemic of diet-related disease in the United States. Learners begin with a reading excerpt of detailed information on trends in the American diet and the...
Curated OER
The Food Pyramid
Learning about nutrition and how to eat healthy foods is very important for kids these days. Here is a lesson, designed for 4th graders, that teaches these important skills. Pupils plan nutritional meals by using the USDA's Food Guide...
Curated OER
Food Math
Students brainstorm healthy food choices. In this health science lesson, students calculate how much of each food group they need daily. They plan a menu based on the "MyPyramid for Kids" food guide.
Curated OER
Food and Your Body -- How to Maintain a Healthy Diet
Students examine the different food groups on the food pyramid. In groups, they discover the proper amount to eat from each food group and how to prepare healthy meals. They keep a food journal and calculate the amount of calories they...
Curated OER
Nutrition 1: Food and the Digestive System
Students are introduced to how the digestive system works in their body. In groups, they discover they need energy and water to live a healthy life. They discover how the body repairs itself and how it grows. They also examine how...
Baylor College
Serving Sizes
Are serving sizes for different foods always appropriate for what you need? In this hands-on activity, learners work in groups to estimate what one serving size of various foods are, and then evaluate their hypotheses by measuring real...
US Department of Agriculture
Serving Up My Plate
Within three nutrition-themed, inquiry-based learning opportunities, pupils take notice of their eating habits; delve deep into the five food groups, gain experience in planning meals, participate in a taste test, and explore ads from...
Curated OER
The Five Food Groups
Third graders explore the five food groups. They discuss the importance of the five food groups in their diets. Students research each of the five food groups using a WebQuest. They use the information from the WebQuest to make healthy...
Curated OER
Food Fat
High schoolers evaluate snack foods based on calories and fat. In small groups, they use this information to make informed and wise food choices. Students graphically represent the fat in a food by measuring the equivalent of the food...
Curated OER
Falling Food Lesson
Pupils examine personal health by defining the five food groups. In this food pyramid lesson, students discuss the importance of each food group and write them on the board. Pupils utilize the Internet to participate in a food...
Curated OER
Stacking the Deck on Nutrition
Students explore classification. In this science lesson plan, students arrange a variety of foods into their proper food groups. This and other related activities will aid in the development of the students' critical thinking skills.
Curated OER
Nutritional Needs
Students complete work at six stations as they investigate children's nutritional needs, kitchen safety, and snacks. First, they listen to Dr. Seuss', "Green Eggs and Ham" before discussing nutrition and the station activities. At each...
Curated OER
Understanding My Pyramid
Students examine the food pyramid and construct a healthy meal. In this food pyramid lesson, students examine the new food pyramid that includes fats and oils, and is arranged with brightly colored triangles. They use grocery store adds...
Curated OER
Where Do Plants Get Their Food?
Plants need food to survive, just like any other living organism. Young biologists analyze an experiment performed in 1610 by Jan van Helmont to determine if plant nutrition is obtained through the soil. First, lab groups work together...
Smithsonian Institution
Be a Food Detective
What are packaged food products really made of? This lesson will prompt your learners to consider and investigate the source of ingredients in their food. They begin by breaking into groups and analyzing food labels by identifying...