Grade Level: Elementary (adaptable for middle school)
Time Frame: 40-60 minutes
Objectives:
- Students will identify the 5 food groups and categorize foods appropriately.
- Students will discuss the nutritional benefits of each food group.
- Students will learn the importance of a balanced diet through an interactive video.
Materials:
- “Enter the Food Warrior” video queued up
- Food group posters/charts with visuals and tactile elements
- Various food picture cards with braille labels
- Paper plates (one per student) with food group sections pre-labeled
- Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
- Fidget tools as needed
Lesson Introduction:
- Engage students in a discussion about healthy eating and the 5 food groups – fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains, dairy. Use large visual aids.
- Explain that we will be watching an exciting video where we train as food warriors and learn how each food group powers our body and brain.
- Distribute pre-labeled paper plates and art supplies.
Video Learning Activity:
- Play the “Enter the Food Warrior” video. Pause after each scene to review key points. Use close captioning or provide a printed script.
- Have students draw or glue pictures of foods from that group in the matching plate section. Provide hand-over-hand assistance as needed.
- Frequently check for understanding. Allow time between scenes for processing.
- Discuss how all the food groups work together for the healthiest diet.
Closure:
- Hand out food picture cards. Assist students in categorizing onto food group posters.
- Allow students to volunteer sharing one food they categorized. Provide sentence starters.
Assessment:
- Check student paper plates for comprehension. Assess participation and engagement in activities.
- Provide positive reinforcement throughout. Offer accommodations like fidget tools, sensory breaks, or 1:1 assistance.
Author note: This lesson is by Adam Forbes (featured in video) a former colleague of mine, we collaborated together to make this video during the COVID-19 lockdown, but I still think it is a good lesson and I still use it to this day.
