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High-tech Nutrition

Christine Morin, Technology Aid
Swift River School
(christinemorin1@netscape.net)

Level: Grades 4-6
Subject Areas: Comprehensive Health and English Language Arts

Objective:

This multi-part lesson will help students draw conclusions about healthy eating and nutrition. Students will read a poem, then complete two assignments using computer applications and the Internet. Throughout this process, students will review and strengthen their understanding of the food pyramid and nutrition.

Learning Standards Addressed:

Massachusetts Comprehensive Health 3.2
Use the USDA Food Guide Pyramid and its three major concepts of balance, variety, and moderation to plan healthy meals and snacks

Massachusetts Comprehensive Health 3.9
Describe a healthy diet and adequate physical activity during the adolescent growth spurt.

Massachusetts English Language Arts
19.11 Write brief summaries of information gathered through research.

Massachusetts English Language Arts 19.16
Write brief research reports with clear focus and supporting detail.

Computer Functions:

Students will use computer software to graph data, the Internet to make comparisons and word processing to write a paragraph.

Problem:

According to the American Heart Association, 65% of Americans are overweight. Some of this excess weight is due to poor diets. Let's look at the diet of a fictitious family and make healthy recommendations in alignment with the Food Pyramid.

Data Manipulation:

Students will examine the Food Pyramid and compare the information with the diet of a family to draw conclusions about healthy dietary habits.

Results Presentation:

Students will print a graph and a word-processed document to share with classmates and families. These will also be displayed in school public viewing areas.

Activities During Computer Use:

Students will make a graph using Microsoft Excel.
Students will use the Internet to access the Dairy Council and play a food pyramid game at http://www.dairycouncilofca.org/activities/pyra_main.htm.

Students will use a word processor to write a paragraph about healthy food choices.

Activities Before Computer Use:
Students will read the poem, Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take The Garbage Out by Shel Silverstein. It can be read to students at http://lp2cd.com/time/70/70011.htm.

Activities After Computer Use:
Students share their finished graphs and paragraphs with classmates and their families.

Students create a bulletin board display of their finished projects for the school.

Supporting Activities:

Lesson One

• Students will read the poem and organize data.
• Students will make a graph using the data they collect from the poem.
• Students will save and print their graphs.

Lesson Two

• Students will fill in the food pyramid at the Dairy Council website.
• Students will write a paragraph using MSWord that shows their understanding of the food pyramid by comparing the information in their graphs from Lesson One.
• Students will save and print their writing.

Extensions:
Students can take a quiz on the Healthy Fridge website at http://www.healthyfridge.org/kids.html.

Students can create an illustration using KidPix that shows their understanding of healthy food choices.

Assessment:
Finished products will be assessed by the student and teacher using the following score sheet.

Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out:
Student Handout

Step 1

• Read the poem as you listen online at http://lp2cd.com/time/70/70011.htm.
• Fill in the chart with Sarah's garbage.

• Make a graph of Sarah's garbage using MS Excel.

Step 2

• Fill in the food pyramid at http://www.dairycouncilofca.org/activities/pyra_main.htm and compare it with the food in Sarah's garbage.
• Does Sarah's family need to make changes in their food choices? Write a few sentences to explain. (If each word is worth $20, write at least a $2000 paragraph.) You can start a rough draft here, then type a final copy using MSWord. Remember to include a title, date and your name.

Step 3

• Take the quiz at http://www.healthyfridge.org/kids.html
• Use Kid Pix to illustrate a "scene of garbage" that meets the food pyramid guidelines.

Image Source: http://www.centenaryarchers.gil.com.au/archery_Fitness.htm

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