Unit 3 Summary

Objective:  Children will understand the importance of knowing which foods give them the most energy so that they can use their energy to be physically active. 

Materials Needed

• “Energy Foods” game instructions

• Large pictures of high/low energy foods

• Session 3 discussion card

• Large pictures of active activities including gardening activities

• Large pictures of sedentary activities

• “Gardener Says” game instructions

• Tummy Mindfulness and Experiential Eating protocol

• Fruit, vegetables, and napkins for tasting

• Tummy dolls

• Watering cans

• “Seedling Song” lyrics

• “Exercise When We Rhyme” game instructions

• Measuring tape

Review [10 minutes—game]

• Game: “Energy Foods”

Classroom Activity [20 minutes—discussion, game]

• Discussion 3a:  Children are led through a discussion on the importance of being physically active. 

  • • Reinforce that physical activity is good for them, provides energy, and keeps them strong

    • Ask what physical activities they participate in

    • Show pictures of various physical activities and sedentary behaviors and have them identify them

    • Demonstrate the gardening tool pictures and encourage the children to participate

• Game: “Gardener Says” (Simon Says)

Mindful Eating [15 minutes—tummy mindfulness, experiential eating]:

• Tummy Mindfulness and Experiential Eating Protocol

Garden Activity [20 minutes—garden maintenance, song, garden exploration, game]

• Garden Maintenance and Song

  • • • Have the children water the garden

      • Sing lyrics to the “Seedling Song” while watering

• Garden Exploration

  • • • Point out the plants growing  

      • Have the children identify characteristics of fruits and/or vegetables (color, shape, texture, if ready for harvesting)

• Game: “Exercise When We Rhyme”

Wrap Up/Review [5 minutes—discussion, song]

• Mindfulness Activity: There are three (3) Mindfulness activities available as Bonus Materials; (1) Art Activity, (2) Guided Meditation, and (3) Yoga Activity. You have the option of selecting one of these mindfulness activities to perform along with the Wrap-up and Review of each unit. 

* (See Mindfulness Activities for Objectives, Key Learning Concepts, Materials, and Instructions)  

• The teacher measures the lima bean so that we can continue to chart its growth. Ask the children what is needed for the lima bean to grow and relate back to what children need (prompt the children to identify water, sunlight, and food-fruits and vegetables, and soil).

• Discussion 3b: The teacher asks the children why fruits and vegetables are good for your body and helps us grow. Prompt the children to the answer, to have energy to be physically active and play.

• Song: If there is time, the teacher leads the “Seedling Song”