The 5 Healthy Food Groups
Learning Context
Purpose
The five healthy food groups are an important concept for students to understand in order
to promote awareness of the nutrition in the foods they eat. To make healthy choices, students
need to have an understanding of the five healthy food groups: grains, vegetables, fruits,
proteins, and dairy. Understanding the nutrition of the five food groups promotes healthy eating
habits. When students consume a variety of foods from each of the healthy food groups, they are
making healthy choices that will impact their growth and development.
Class Background
This Learning Experience focuses on a self-contained kindergarten and first grade 8:1:2
classroom at Charlotte Sidway Elementary in Grand Island, NY. There are six students in the
classroom with one special education teacher and two classroom aides. The students in the
classroom have been diagnosed with autism, while several are diagnosed with multiple
disabilities. The nature of students in the classroom involves a severe developmental delay. The
students require extensive individualized attention in order to complete many tasks including
daily living and academic tasks. Two of the students are non-verbal and use communication
devices to communicate their responses. The students receive several therapies throughout the
day; therefore, whole group instruction is often with three to four students.
Majority of the instruction is whole group or individualized instruction. Whole group
instruction takes place at the brown kidney shaped table or on the square rug located at the
entrance of the classroom. During the independent practice portion of the lesson, students go to
each of the round tables in the classroom to create a My Healthy Plate. The floor plan in
Appendix C illustrates the layout of the classroom's arrangement. During whole group
instruction and individualized instruction, students are expected to follow directions, keep their
hands to themselves, and clean up after themselves. In order for lessons to be effective, the
classroom rules and procedures found in appendices A and B, need to be followed throughout the
entire school day. The Learning Experience is designed to be implemented to five students in
the classroom. One of the students is at a much higher level developmentally and this student
integrates into a first grade classroom for the majority of the day. The Learning Experience
takes place in the afternoon.
Enduring Understanding
• There are five healthy food groups and food from each group is important to consume on daily basis to keep our bodies healthy.
• The foods in each of the five main food groups contain essential vitamins and minerals to help our bodies grow strong and stay healthy.
• Choosing to eat healthy foods from each of the food groups helps our bodies grow into strong and healthy adults.
Essential Questions
• Are you what you eat?
Guiding Questions
• What is an example of a fruit?
• What does a fruit give your body?
• What is an example of a vegetable?
• What does a vegetable give your body?
• What is an example of food from the grains group?
• What does food from the grains provide to our body?
• What is an example of a food from the protein group?
• What does food from the protein group provide to our body?
• What is an example of food from the dairy food group?
• What does food from the dairy group provide to our bodies?
Overview of What Students Need to Know
Prior to Implementation
- Students identify a variety of healthy food choices
- Students identify a variety of unhealthy food choices
- Students sort healthy vs. unhealthy food choices
- Students identify what a dentist does for their teeth
During Implementation
- Students identify a variety of foods that belong to the fruit, vegetable, grains, protein, and dairy food group.
- Students explain how the food from the five healthy food groups help their bodies grow strong.
- Students see themselves in the role of making healthy choices when eating.
After Implementation
- Students understand how our bodies require a set amount of food from the fruit, vegetable, grains, protein, and dairy food group on a daily basis.
- Students understand how our bodies require a limited portion of food from the fats and oils food group.
- Students identify a variety of foods that belong to the fruit, vegetable, grains, protein, and dairy group.
- Students choose healthy snacks when provided with two food choices.
