My Food Pyramid
For Kids

Subjects

Mathematics
--Measurement
Health
--Nutrition

Grade

K-2
3-5

Brief Description

Students learn more about the food groups and explore which foods are in each group.

Objectives

Students will

explore the food groups on the USDAs food pyramid;
learn about which foods belong to each food group;
fill out a table to track the number of servings of each food group they eat each day.

Keywords

nutrition, food groups, food pyramid, health

Materials Needed

Internet access
access to MyPyramid for Kids and/or MyPyramid for Kids Coloring Page
Food Group Journal teaching master

Lesson Plan

Create a bulletin board by cutting a large triangle from mural paper or cardboard. Divide the triangle into sections like those on the USDAs food pyramid for kids. Discuss with students the food pyramid and explain what it means.

Invite students to bring to school pictures of food cut from magazines and newspaper circulars. Encourage them to use the USDA's MyPyramid for Kids online or a printed copy of the MyPyramid for Kids Coloring Page to choose foods and decide where on the pyramid each food should go.

One at a time, allow each student to choose one picture to attach to the bulletin board. Discuss as a class where on the pyramid each picture should go. If possible, help students understand whether the picture should go at the wide bottom of the pyramid (Eat a lot!) or at the narrow top (Eat a little!). When every student has had a turn to attach one picture, tell students they may attach the rest of their pictures during free time or after completing their morning seatwork.

Ask students to write down on a piece of paper the number of servings of each food group they think they eat each day. Have them put those papers in a safe place or, if your students are very young, collect their papers. (They dont need to share them.) Then distribute to each student a printed copy of the Education World Food Group Journal teaching master. Invite students to track for five days the number of servings they eat from each food group each day. At the end of five days, students can compare their initial estimates with the actual number of servings they eat.

Assessment

Assess students based on their participation in the activity.

Lesson Plan Source

EducationWorld.com

Submitted By

Gary Hopkins

National Standards

MATHEMATICS: Measurement
GRADES Pre-K - 2
NM-MEA.PK-2.1 Understand Measurable Attributes of Objects and the Units, Systems, and Processes of Measurement
NM-MEA.PK-2.2 Apply Appropriate Techniques, Tools, and Formulas to Determine Measurements
GRADES 3 - 5
NM-MEA.3-5.1 Understand Measurable Attributes of Objects and the Units, Systems, and Processes of Measurement
NM-MEA.3-5.2 Apply Appropriate Techniques, Tools, and Formulas to Determine Measurements

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH: Health
GRADES K - 4
NPH-H.K-4.1 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
NPH-H.K-4.2 Health Information, Products and Services
NPH-H.K-4.3 Reducing Health Risks
NPH-H.K-4.4 Health Influences
NPH-H.K-4.6 Setting Goals for Good Health
GRADES 5 - 8
NPH-H.5-8.1 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
NPH-H.5-8.2 Health Information, Products and Services
NPH-H.5-8.3 Reducing Health Risks
NPH-H.5-8.4 Health Influences
NPH-H.5-8.6 Setting Goals for Good Health