What is Healthy
INTRODUCTION FOR TEACHERS
Place students into 5 different groups. Number off the students in each group, so that they all have a number. Each number has a role or job to do. e.g. All groups will have a number 1, all groups will have a number 2 etc.
Number 1 collects 1 x texta per person (not red) and takes them back to their group.
Number 2 collects an A3 sheet with a food group heading already on it.
Number 3 begins the activity first and the group takes turns in drawing or writing a food item they think belongs to the food group listed at the top of their page.
Each group has 5 minutes to write down as many as they can think of.
The teacher counts down the last 10 seconds out loud to warn each group that time is almost up.
Number 4’s take their sheet of paper to the group next to them in a clockwise direction.
Time starts again but this time they only have 4 minutes to add to the Food Group Chart.
The teacher counts down the last 10 seconds out loud to warn each group that time is almost up.
Number 5’s take their sheet of paper to the group next to them in a clockwise direction.
Time starts again but this time they only have 3 minutes to add to the Food Group Chart.
The teacher counts down the last 10 seconds out loud to warn each group that time is almost up.
Number 1’s take their sheet of paper to the group next to them in a clockwise direction.
Time starts again but this time they only have 2 minutes to add to the Food Group Chart.
The teacher counts down the last 10 seconds out loud to warn each group that time is almost up.
Number 2’s take their sheet of paper to the group next to them in a clockwise direction.
Time starts again but this time they only have 1 minute to add to the Food Group Chart.
The teacher counts down the last 10 seconds out loud to warn each group that time is almost up.
Number 3 and 4’s stand up and select 6 items to read aloud to the rest of the class.
Once each group has had a turn, Number 5’s collect a red texta and the Food Group Chart that has been copied by the teacher and that is the same as the heading on their page.
Each group then uses the picture chart to check their sheet of paper against the correct foods.
Every time they have an item on the A3 page that is on the Food Group Chart, they circle the food.
Once complete, the teacher asks them to add up the number of circles they have on their page.
Number 1’s stand up and write their food group on the whiteboard and their score next to it.
Now the groups need to circle in orange any foods on their A3 sheet that belong to the group but are not on the Food Group Chart. They get 5 points per item they find.
Number 2’s stand up and read out any items they find. Every other group needs to agree the item belongs to the food group before the group presenting can gain the points.
Number 3’s add the extra score for their group and add to the score on the whiteboard.
Number 4’s collect textas and Food Group Chart and return to the teacher.
Number 5’s collect Blu Tac or pins and hang their A3 sheet somewhere in the room allocated by the teacher.
Move to an outside area or clear furniture in the room to allow movement through the length of the classroom.
PREPARATION
One copy of the following food groups from the ATSIGHE Food Chart (use scissors to cut up a copy):
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Guide to Healthy Eating Poster
Fruit Chart
Vegetable Chart
Dairy Chart
Meats and Protein Chart
Breads and Grains Chart
5 sheets of A3 or large butcher paper, each labelled with a food group heading
A thin texta per person but do not use red or orange, 5 red textas and 5 orange textas, one colour of each per group, 1 whiteboard marker per group (to be left on the whiteboard)
Blu Tak or pins to hang A3 sheets at end of session.
ACTIVITY -1
“Who’s Been Eating Healthy Food?”
(Similar rules as “What’s the Time Mr Wolf?”)
Children chant: “Who’s been eating healthy food?”
Teacher answers: “Anyone who ate a dairy item today”
Anyone who complies with the statement takes a step forward.
Children chant: “Who’s been eating healthy food?”
Teacher answers: “Anyone who ate fruit yesterday”
Repeat chant and teacher answers each time using a healthy food item from the food groups. The first person who can reach out and touch the teacher is the winner.
Swap roles, the winner stands out the front. The teacher may need to assist the student to think of items in particular food groups.
Play a number of times to ensure the students are gasping the concept of which area food items can be classified.
Variation 1:
Teacher has an empty healthy food packet behind them (e.g. cereal packet, milk container) and they chase the person who has made it close enough to steal it and run home.
Teacher or person who is IT chases the runner.
Swap with the student who won the previous game.
The person who is IT, has to think of healthy food to call out.
(Teacher may need to prompt some students)
Variation 2:
As the students become more knowledgeable, use just dairy products or just meat and protein food groups.