Grade 2: Categorizing Food Into Food Groups

Grade 2: Categorizing Food into Food Groups

ACVITIVY 1

Objectives:

Identify and name all of the food groups
Categorize food into the appropriate food group
Understand the importance of eating a variety of foods from each group and how this improves overall nutrition
Understand the role that physical activity plays in nutrition
Establish a short term personal health goal and take action toward achieving it

Bench Marks:

PE.2.L.2.11: Categorize food into food groups.

PE.2.C.1.2: Understand safety rules and procedures for selected physical activities.

PE.2.L.1.2: Demonstrate involvement in physical activities both during and after the school day.

PE.2.L.1.5: Describe healthful benefits that result from regular participation and physical activity.

HE.2.B.4.1: Establish a short term personal health goal as a class and take action toward achieving the goal.

HE.2.B.4.2: Identify who can help and how they assist in achieving a personal health goal.

HE.2.P.2.1: Support peers when making positive health choices.

Materials Needed

Pictures of foods with magnet attached to back (e.g., tape can be used in place or magnets, or small rocks can be used to hold food pictures down on the MyPlate if outside)
Basket or large open container
MyPlate model on the board

Activity 1 Introduction (10 Minutes)

Review the five food groups using the MyPlate model on the board.
Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Dairy
Protein
Discuss with the students what types of foods are found in each food group (e.g, milk, yogurt, and cheese are part of the dairy group; fish, beans, chicken, eggs, and beef are part of the protein group. These are examples of some of the foods found in these foods groups),
Discuss the school menu.
Ask the students to group today’s lunch options into the correct food groups (e.g., can be done as a class on board or on an individual basis).
Discuss the importance of eating from all of the food groups.
The students will come up with one healthy class goal related to the food groups (e.g., the students will try a new food from a food group they don’t normally eat).
Have the students identify an adult who can help them achieve their goal (e.g., mom will help student purchase and prepare new food).
Encourage the students to make healthy food choices both in the school and at home.
Encourage the students to support their peers to make healthy food choices.

Activity 1 (20 minutes)

Food Group Relay Race

Explain the rules of the activity (e.g., the students must stay in personal space; the students will race to make a complete MyPlate using foods found in the basket).
The teacher will separate the students into two groups.
The MyPlate model will be drawn or printed for each team.
This activity can be done inside the classroom or outside the classroom (e.g., if outside, the MyPlate can be drawn in chalk on the ground; if inside the classroom the MyPlate can be drawn on the board).
The students will form two lines behind their MyPlate models.
If preferred, the students can sit at their desks if in the classroom and wait until their group member has returned to his/her seat before taking their turn.
The first student will run to the basket containing the food pictures and they will choose one picture. This student will then run to put the picture onto the MyPlate model in the correct food group place.
Next, the student will return back to his/her seat or return to the line and sit down so that the next student may go.
Repeat steps 5-6 until all of the students who wanted to participate have had a turn and the MyPlate models are complete with food pictures in all of the 5 food groups.
The first group to be seated wins.

Resources:

Created by:

Brittany Pond and Julie Rankin

Dietetic Interns

Division of Food, Nutrition and Wellness

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Page | 1