Elementary School Resources

Lesson Plans

• MyPyramid Food Guidance System - Educational materials developed at the elementary school level to help children learn the MyPyramid food guidance system. Lesson plans for teachers are available in three levels: Level 1 (grades 1-2); Level 2 (grades 3-4); and Level 3 (grades 5-6).
• Educator's Reference Desk - Lesson Plans written by teachers related to nutrition.
• Healthy Choices for Kinds - Educational materials provided by the Washington Apple Education Foundation. Site includes lesson plans and activities on a variety of topics, including "“Choose a Healthy & Active Lifestyle”, and Choosing Healthy Snacks.
• Nutrition Expedition - provides lesson plans and other resources to help teachers teach nutrition concepts in schools. Among the resources you will find here is "Pyramid Explorations" and "Pyramid Cafe". These helpful resources are provided by the National Dairy Council.
• FightBac - "A variety of tools, resources and educational materials have been developed to support and extend the Fight BAC! campaign. Whether you are educating consumers in the supermarket, teaching children at a community fair or conducting a lesson for a scout troop there are materials available to help you teach your audience how to Fight BAC!"

Downloadable Resources

• MyPyramid for Kids - Resources include MyPyramid for Kids worksheets, games, step-by-step explanations of the pyramid, posters, and tips for parents.
• Dole's 5 A Day web site provides access to a number of educational resources designed to help you make 5 A Day come alive in your school. The web site also offers educational activities for you and your students that will help you learn more about fruits and vegetables and why eating 5 to 9 servings every day is so important.
• Dairy Council of California provides many resources, including worksheets, including "Put Your Favorite Beverage to the Test" and Use MyPyramid to Make Healthy Choices".

USDA Eat Smart Play Hard Collection includes worksheets, brochures, posters, as well as other educational resources.

• USDA Resource Cafe - Preschool to High School materials developed in many states to assist in teaching nutrition.
• Teacher and Student Resources - created by states developed with the Team Nutrition Grant.
• Eat Smart - Great site with fun activity sheets for kids (better rewards than candy).
• Henry the Hand - Download posters, worksheets, and other resources. Handwashing is very important in preventing the spread of viruses, bacteria, and illness. The lessons are created by a physician and are a quick and easy way to teach young children the basics of sanitation.

WebQuests

• Food is Fuel: Your job is to create a three day menu including three meals and at least two snacks each day for your family.  This menu will follow the food pyramid guidelines and fulfill the daily requirements (RDA) of one specific nutrient (vitamin or mineral) of your choice.

Useful Links

• National Coalition for Food Safe Schools - This Web site is a one-stop gateway to school food safety information and resources.
• Nutrition Exploration Kids Zone - Great site for fun and games to learn healthy nutrition.
• Milk Matters Kids Page - The games and activities on this page will help you learn more about calcium, and why it's important for strong bones and healthy teeth. 
• USDA Food and Nutrition Resources for Teachers - provides web resources, information on books and multimedia resources for teachers.
• Nutrition Cafe - games and information that teaches students nutrition concepts in a fun way.
• Fast Food Facts is your source for the most up-to-date nutritional information on your favorite fast food for dieting and weight control; sugar levels for diabetics; carbs (carbohydrate) for low-carb dieters; and health & nutrition class projects for students and teachers.
• NickJr Kids Nutrition - lots of activities here that will help teach nutrition.
• FightBac - "A variety of tools, resources and educational materials have been developed to support and extend the Fight BAC! campaign. Whether you are educating consumers in the supermarket, teaching children at a community fair or conducting a lesson for a scout troop there are materials available to help you teach your audience how to Fight BAC!"
• Kidnetic - Site provides games that teach you how your body works, as well as information about food, fun and fitness.

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Middle School Resources

Lesson Plans

• Too Much of a Sweet Thing - In this lesson plan, grade 6-12 students use a NY Times article as a starting point to "examine the growing prevalence of processed sugar in the American diet, first through a demonstration that makes graphically clear the amount of sugar an average boy and girl consumes on a daily basis. They then will explore the issue in greater depth through the featured article. Finally, student teams will devise illustrated posters for a Sweet Health campaign, aimed at persuading other children and parents of the potential dangers of processed sugar over-consumption and the value of healthy eating alternatives."
• Nutrients by the Numbers: Using Math to Explore Nutrition - In this lesson, students strengthen their percentage and fraction skills in comparing the nutritional values of similar food products. They then individually calculate their daily intake of various nutrients and compare their diets to recommended daily percentages.
• You Are What You Eat: Evaluating the Nutritional Components of One’s Diet - In this lesson, students evaluate their eating habits, focusing on the ways in which one assesses whether or not his or her diet is nutritious. Students work in small groups to design a menu for a healthy lunch and write a paragraph justifying their choices.
• Food for Thought: Investigating Nutritional Components of Food in the Science or Health Classroom - In this lesson, students explore various nutritional components found in foods to analyze their sources, effects on the human body, and relationship to a healthy diet. Each student researches a different nutritional component and then creates an informative poster incorporating the research.
• A Picture of Health: Evaluating Societal and Individual Nutrition and Exercise Habits - In this lesson, students explore why Americans failed to meet health goals for the year 2000 and ways in which Americans can shape up to meet the 2010 goals. Students maintain a food and exercise diary for one week, evaluate their nutrition and exercise habits, and propose ways in which they can improve their health.

Downloadable Resources

WebQuests

• FoodQuest for Health - The purpose of this WebQuest is to introduce you to the Food Guide Pyramid and food labels. At the conclusion of this WebQuest you will be able to explain the items that are contained on a food label and their significance. You will also be able to plan a balanced meal based on the Food Guide Pyramid.
• Fast Food Choices..You are What You Eat -

Useful Links

• Fast Food Facts is your source for the most up-to-date nutritional information on your favorite fast food for dieting and weight control; sugar levels for diabetics; carbs (carbohydrate) for low-carb dieters; and health & nutrition class projects for students and teachers.
• Powerful Girls have Powerful Bones - Fun activities to build up bone strength.
• GirlsHealth - "a web site made just for you! There’s lots of cool information you can use. Maybe you want to start working out or you’re stressed out about school. There are lots of different topics to choose from. Take a look!"
• Team Nutrition - Team Nutrition site reaches a broad audience with information on nutrition education, healthy eating and physical activity.
• Healthy Youth - A wealth of information and activities can be found on this site.
• FightBac - "A variety of tools, resources and educational materials have been developed to support and extend the Fight BAC! campaign. Whether you are educating consumers in the supermarket, teaching children at a community fair or conducting a lesson for a scout troop there are materials available to help you teach your audience how to Fight BAC!"

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High School Resources

Lesson Plans

• Food Risks: Perception vs Reality- A series of 8 lessons plans for high school students prepared by the US Food and Drug Administration to promote food risk awareness and understanding
• Comparison Food Shopping - Have students discover that nutritious food can be bought and prepared more cheaply than "fast food.".
• Food Labels in the Classroom - Students investigate the nutritional value of the food products they consume by using food labels, which enables them to make healthy and intelligent dietary choices for the rest of their lives.
• Too Much of a Sweet Thing - In this lesson plan, grade 6-12 students use a NY Times article as a starting point to "examine the growing prevalence of processed sugar in the American diet, first through a demonstration that makes graphically clear the amount of sugar an average boy and girl consumes on a daily basis. They then will explore the issue in greater depth through the featured article. Finally, student teams will devise illustrated posters for a Sweet Health campaign, aimed at persuading other children and parents of the potential dangers of processed sugar over-consumption and the value of healthy eating alternatives."
• Nutrients by the Numbers: Using Math to Explore Nutrition - In this lesson, students strengthen their percentage and fraction skills in comparing the nutritional values of similar food products. They then individually calculate their daily intake of various nutrients and compare their diets to recommended daily percentages.
• You Are What You Eat: Evaluating the Nutritional Components of One’s Diet - In this lesson, students evaluate their eating habits, focusing on the ways in which one assesses whether or not his or her diet is nutritious. Students work in small groups to design a menu for a healthy lunch and write a paragraph justifying their choices.
• Food for Thought: Investigating Nutritional Components of Food in the Science or Health Classroom - In this lesson, students explore various nutritional components found in foods to analyze their sources, effects on the human body, and relationship to a healthy diet. Each student researches a different nutritional component and then creates an informative poster incorporating the research.
• A Picture of Health: Evaluating Societal and Individual Nutrition and Exercise Habits - In this lesson, students explore why Americans failed to meet health goals for the year 2000 and ways in which Americans can shape up to meet the 2010 goals. Students maintain a food and exercise diary for one week, evaluate their nutrition and exercise habits, and propose ways in which they can improve their health.
• Dining In: Developing a Business Plan for the School Cafeteria - In this lesson, students develop a business plan for improving their school cafeteria.
• Counting Calories: Creating Word Problems about Cereal Nutrition- In this lesson, students evaluate the health of breakfast foods. They work in pairs to create and solve word problems using cereal nutrition data. For homework, they solve additional problems formulated in class and write short essays commenting on what they have learned.
• 'Got Milk?' or 'Not Milk!'? - That Is the Question! Critically Analyzing Information about Dairy Products on the Internet - In this lesson, students critically analyze Web sites that present different sides of the controversial milk debate (good for you/not good for you).

Downloadable Resources

WebQuests

• Fast Food Frenzy - High school students often seek fast-food restaurants to satisfy their hunger. These restaurants are convenient and affordable to teenagers. This WebQuest will explore fast-food chains from other perspectives. There will be four roles played out in each group. In the process, you will find not only interesting facts and exciting stories, but also numerous statistics related to various fast-food restaurants. After analyzing four main fast-food restaurants, your team will select one of the four in which to invest your time and money. Your team will present your findings in a slide show presentation
• Fast Food for a Fast Generation - Over the next 50 years a "fast food" lifestyle will cause many health problems including heart disease, strokes, stomach disorders, etc. A prevention plan for making wiser choices regarding on-the-go eating must be addressed. Better choices should start now in a teen's daily diet to ensure a healthy long life.
• Kidnetic - Site provides games that teach you how your body works, as well as information about food, fun and fitness.

Useful Links

• Fast Food Facts is your source for the most up-to-date nutritional information on your favorite fast food for dieting and weight control; sugar levels for diabetics; carbs (carbohydrate) for low-carb dieters; and health & nutrition class projects for students and teachers.
• GirlsHealth - "a web site made just for you! There’s lots of cool information you can use. Maybe you want to start working out or you’re stressed out about school. There are lots of different topics to choose from. Take a look!"
• Team Nutrition - Team Nutrition site reaches a broad audience with information on nutrition education, healthy eating and physical activity.
• Healthy Youth - A wealth of information and activities can be found on this site.
• FightBac - "A variety of tools, resources and educational materials have been developed to support and extend the Fight BAC! campaign. Whether you are educating consumers in the supermarket, teaching children at a community fair or conducting a lesson for a scout troop there are materials available to help you teach your audience how to Fight BAC!"
  

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