Teacher sheet · Ages 6–7 · about 45–50 minutes
Food for a healthy body
Lesson page: echoesof.science/school/healthy-eating/ages-6-7/ · Pupil worksheet: echoesof.science/school/healthy-eating/ages-6-7/print/
Learning aims
- We need a variety of foods to stay healthy.
- Foods can be sorted into groups (fruit and vegetables, starchy foods, protein foods, dairy).
- Aim for at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
- Sugary foods and drinks are 'now and then' foods because sugar can damage teeth.
Lesson plan
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 5 min | Starter: what did you have for breakfast? (Voluntary, no judging.) |
| 10 min | Read the text together and look at the groups. |
| 15 min | Build a balanced plate in groups. |
| 10 min | Play Which food group? or do the quiz. |
| 5 min | Share: one new fruit or vegetable you would like to try. |
Materials for the experiment
- A big paper plate for each group
- Pictures of foods cut from magazines or leaflets, or empty food packets
- Glue sticks
- Coloured pencils
Safety: Use pictures and empty, clean packets only: no tasting, because some children have food allergies. Everyone eats different foods at home, and that is fine: be kind about other people's food.
Common misconceptions
| Pupils may think… | Actually… |
|---|---|
| Some foods are 'good' and others are 'bad'. | A balanced diet is about the mix over a day or week; some foods are everyday foods and some are for now and then. |
| Only fresh fruit counts. | Fresh, frozen, tinned and dried fruit and vegetables all count. |
| Potatoes count as a vegetable for 5 a day. | Potatoes count as a starchy food, not as one of the 5 a day. |
Worksheet answers
- Any lunch with several food groups, ideally including fruit or vegetables.
- Yes.
- Energy: for example bread, rice, pasta or potatoes. Calcium: milk, yoghurt or cheese.
Quiz answers
- How many portions of fruit and vegetables should you try to eat every day? At least 5. Aim for at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day.[1]
- Which food gives you lots of energy? Pasta. Starchy foods like pasta are a main source of energy.[1]
- What does your body use protein for? To grow and repair itself. The body needs protein to grow and to replace tissues.[6]
- Milk and cheese help make strong… bones. Dairy foods are a key source of calcium for bones.[1]
- Why are sweets and fizzy drinks 'now and then' foods? Sugar can cause holes in teeth. Sugar is one of the main causes of tooth decay.[3]
Going further
Make a class 'rainbow' chart: over one week, colour in a fruit or vegetable of each colour that someone in the class has tried. Be sensitive: families have different budgets, diets, cultures and allergies; never comment on what an individual child eats.
Sources used in this lesson
- [1] The Eatwell Guide (NHS (UK National Health Service)): reliability High
- [2] 5 A Day: what counts? (NHS (UK National Health Service)): reliability High
- [3] Sugar: the facts (NHS (UK National Health Service)): reliability High
- [4] How to get more fibre into your diet (NHS (UK National Health Service)): reliability High
- [6] Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Fats (Merck Manual Consumer Version (Merck & Co.)): reliability Medium-high
- [7] Anatomy and Physiology, 24.7 Nutrition and Diet (OpenStax, Rice University): reliability High
Full list with links and a note on each source's reliability: echoesof.science/school/healthy-eating/sources/
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