Activity ideas – primary (8-11 years)
To support your Healthy Eating Week, here are lots exciting activities (with links to resources) that you could undertake.
Theme: Food origins - where does food come from?
1. Where in the UK?
Collect a selection of 10-12 UK foods, e.g. meat, cheese, fruit and vegetables which are all labelled with where they are produced and put these in a bag or container. If this is not possible, use the UK Food cards and UK Food labels cards. Take a food from the bag (or use the UK Food cards and UK Food labels cards) and ask the children to name it and say where in the UK it might come from. Read the label to reveal the answer and ask for help labelling the place on a UK map (a map where counties are shown will be best). Repeat this until all the foods have been discussed.
As an extension activity, you could repeat this with World Produce cards, World Produce labels and a World map. http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/cc1e9091-1c6b-4fcd44b653c8.pdf http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/42fe5b1a-217a-415222bebc4c.pdf http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/58184d52-dce2-448d81e91fdb.pdf http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/45fa5e35-a680-468b5533caeb.pdf
2. From farm to fork board game
Download the Farm to fork board game and the rules. This board game is designed to help children understand where their food comes from. The aim of the activity is for children to match different foods to their food sources, e.g. bread to wheat. The activity can be played with two to four players.
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/d9f21fae-3398-4b9255b5742f.pdf
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/4ff0c533-a9e6-42fccec869bc.pdf
3. Down on the farm
Display the Where’s your food from poster. Work with the children to create a list of all the plants and animals they can see on the poster. Record the foods produced from and by the plants and the animals shown.
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/963c1d58-6558-48b6dad79b82.pdf
Use the Down on the farm PowerPoint to review farming and looking after the countryside, crops and animals. Focus on the animals farmed for our food. Ask children to complete the Down on the farm worksheet. http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Sheet.aspx?siteId=15§ionId=66&contentId=148
Look at the Dairy farming posters, following milk from grass to glass! http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/1e113e73-109d-4bd8d25f5671.pdf
4. Where does food come from?
Show the Where does food come from? video. Ask children what their favourite food is and if this food comes from a plant or an animal. The video also follows children on a visit to a dairy farm.
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/VideoActivity.aspx?siteId=14§ionId=63&contentId=608
5. From farm to fork videos
Show the Cheese making video clip and the From wheat to bread video clip. Discuss with the children what they see happening in the clips and ask them what the differences are between making something at home and its being made in a factory? (Amount, size and quantity of equipment.) http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/VideoActivity.aspx?siteId=15§ionId=66&contentId=163
6. What’s happening? Videos
Show children some or all of the following videos: Cornish pasties, Shepherd’s pie, Shortbread, Rhubarb and orange crumble and Soda bread.
Question the children:
§ What ingredients were used?
§ What happened to each ingredient?
§ What processes does each ingredient have to go through before it is eaten?
Give children a copy of the What’s happening? worksheet so they can record how one of the dishes was made. http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/VideoActivity.aspx?siteId=15§ionId=66&contentId=186 http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/VideoActivity.aspx?siteId=15§ionId=66&contentId=183 http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/f74fc85e-c0ea-4c829bd6d63d.pdf
7. Seasonal foods
Use the Eat the seasons PowerPoint to introduce the idea of seasonal foods. Organise to prepare and make a seasonal salad as a class. Use the Sensational seasonal salad recipe as a guide.
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Sheet.aspx?siteId=15§ionId=66&contentId=148
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/57eaddb8-a7b0-45c2cc048692.pdf
8. Where do my meals come from? interactive activity
Demonstrate the Where do my meals come from? interactive activity, using the 5-7 version as an example. Question the children about each item of food to get them to trace it back to its source. What ingredients are in a pancake? Egg. Where does an egg come from? Chicken. Ask the pupils to complete the 8-11 interactive activity.
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Activity.aspx?siteId=14§ionId=63&contentId=174
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Activity.aspx?siteId=15§ionId=66&contentId=175
9. Farm to fork challenge interactive activity
Demonstrate the Farm to fork challenge (5-8) interactive activity to the class. You may wish to use the 5-8 version to begin with and then demonstrate the 8-11 version. Alternatively, you could demonstrate the 5-8 activity and allow the children to complete the 8-11 activity unassisted.
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Activity.aspx?siteId=14§ionId=63&contentId=176
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Activity.aspx?siteId=15§ionId=66&contentId=177
10. Farm visit
Arrange a visit to a farm. If you are interested in visiting a farm or knowing more about farming, use these sites to help: www.face-online.org.uk and www.visitmyfarm.org
Dairy farming and poultry farming booklets are available for children to record their experience at the farm.
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/374e673c-a225-48a185e799c4.pdf
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/d39276e0-6c00-467fa394a3e9.pdf
If you cannot arrange a visit, why not use The farm visit story, with support resources? http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Sheet.aspx?siteId=14§ionId=100&contentId=434
11. Grow your own potatoes
Why not grow your own potatoes at school? Work with the children to create a growing area - it could even be a bucket or tub! Use the following link to order seed potatoes, as well as learn more about growing!
http://gyop.potato.org.uk/
12. The seaside adventure
Read The seaside adventure to help children learn more about where fish comes from. http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Sheet.aspx?siteId=15§ionId=101&contentId=598
Theme: Healthy active lifestyles - The eatwell plate, 5 A DAY, 8 tips for healthy eating.
1. Introduction to The eatwell plate
Use The eatwell plate PowerPoint to recap pupils knowledge about The eatwell plate. Print out an A3 copy of The eatwell plate poster.
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/49ee2ac5-6f59-431411001388.pdf
Either using photographs of food (clip art, magazine cuttings or Food cards 100) or real foods, ask the children to identify and group foods into the five food groups. Children can revise which groups different foods belong to by using the Make a balanced plate interactive activity.
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Sheet.aspx?siteId=15§ionId=64&contentId=50 http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Activity.aspx?siteId=15§ionId=64&contentId=55
2. Alisha and Ronnie interactive activity
After demonstrating an example meal to the class, allow pupils to individually carry out the Alisha and Ronnie interactive activity, which allows them plan a healthy, balanced diet for a day, based on The eatwell plate messages.
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Activity.aspx?siteId=14sectionId=61&contentId=58
3. Eatwell dishes
Organise a cooking session where pupils can make dishes which include foods from the four main eatwell plate food groups, e.g.
· Cous cous
· Salmon and cucumber bagel
· Pitta pockets
· Sandwich wrap
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Sheet.aspx?siteId=15§ionId=65&contentId=120
4. The eatwell plate race
Draw a large eatwell plate with chalk on one end of the playground. Take half of the class to the opposite end of the playground and give them each a Food card. On your instruction, each child should run to the eatwell plate and stand in the food group where their image belongs. Check they are in the right place before collecting the cards and playing with the other half of the class. Further instructions are available online. http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Sheet.aspx?siteId=20§ionId=114&contentId=647
5. The eight tips for healthy eating
Look at The eatwell plate and 8 tips for healthy eating poster. Discuss the 8 tips, which of these the children manage to achieve and which ones they feel they need to work on. In groups, task the children to design a poster to help themselves and others achieve one of the 8 tips.
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/49ee2ac5-6f59-431411001388.pdf
6. Fruit and vegetable recipes
Organise and make some fruit or vegetable based recipes with your class which can count towards their 5 a day. You could try:
· Coleslaw;
· Fruit salad;
· Veggie snacks;
· Layered salad;
· Fruit smoothie.
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Sheet.aspx?siteId=15§ionId=65&contentId=120
7. Are you drinking plenty?
Download the Are you drinking plenty? poster and Teachers’ guide. Use the poster to keep a class record of how much everyone drinks each day for up to a week. The teachers’ guide contains more information about hydration, an individual drink tracking worksheet and fun drinking related maths questions.
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/2bebeb86-d49a-47df5d633b8d.pdf
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/6901406c-e52e-4d5ca39662e9.pdf
8. Understanding energy
Use the Energy PowerPoint to introduce the role of energy and that different foods provide different amounts of energy. Using the Energy cards, ask the children to rank the cards in order of energy provided per 100g. Discuss what they notice about different foods.
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Sheet.aspx?siteId=15§ionId=64&contentId=51
9. Are you doing 60 minutes a day?
Use the Are you doing 60 minutes a day? poster to discuss what counts as being active. Ask pupils to record the activity they do in a week on the Being active worksheet.
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/4f4caf61-7ad3-4b1d8e1071b1.pdf
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/a72e0277-82a8-49df95e72455.pdf
10. Energy balance interactive activity
Read the Energy balance guidance to help you explain the importance of being active to maintain energy balance to the class, then let them use the Energy balance interactive activity. This activity allows children to help Jordan or Nicola choose a healthy diet for a day, which is in energy balance.
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/702c6adf-5517-427b25b951df.pdf
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Activity.aspx?siteId=15§ionId=64&contentId=214
Theme: Food and drink choice
1. Needs of different people PowerPoint
Use the Needs of different people PowerPointto highlight that people have different food needs. Question the children to see if they can suggest what these needs might be, for example:
• age – babies have different diets from adults;
• preference – likes and dislikes;
• vegetarian – some people choose not to eat meat or fish;
• where you live – some foods only grow in a hot climate;
• religion – some religions restrict certain foods;
• allergy – a small number of people have an allergy to a food, e.g. peanuts;
• information – about food, e.g. Red Tractor.
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Sheet.aspx?siteId=15§ionId=65&contentId=130
2. What factors are involved in food and drink choice?
Organise the class in to small groups and provide them with copies of the worksheets below (there are two versions of the same sheet – one with a boy character and one with a girl character). In their groups, get the children to discuss and note factors which may affect people’s food and drink choices. After a set time, ask each group to explain what they have written. Discuss the factors listed and whether they are a positive or negative influence on their food and drink choices.
Boy version: http://commnet.eu/ImagePub.aspx?id=155848
Girl version: http://commnet.eu/ImagePub.aspx?id=155847
3. Occasions
Show children the Occasions PowerPoint and discuss what foods are eaten on different occasions. Why not make a collage of foods eaten on different special occasions for a class display?
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Sheet.aspx?siteId=15§ionId=65&contentId=130
4. World diets
Use the World diets PowerPoint to highlight that people around the world choose different food and drinks. Using the What goes together? SMART Board and/or the Blank eatwell plate worksheet, ask children to sort the different foods from around the world into groups.
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Sheet.aspx?siteId=15§ionId=65&contentId=129
5. Menu matcher
Discuss with the children what factors may influence the food and drink people order when eating out. Give children the Menu matcher worksheet to complete.
http://commnet.eu/ImagePub.aspx?id=155851
6. Food labels
Explain to children that food packaging often displays nutrition information which can help people make choices. Use the Food labels PowerPoint to highlight how this information is presented and how it can be used.
Ask the children to collect and bring in clean, safe food packaging from home which shows nutrition information. Create a display of food packaging to highlight nutrition information.
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Sheet.aspx?siteId=15§ionId=65&contentId=130
Theme: Meal occasions - breakfast, lunch and dinner!
1.Healthy eating around the clock!
Display the Healthy eating around the clock poster and have a general class discussion about mealtimes. Question the children:
· What foods and drinks can you see in the poster?
· What foods do you eat at different meal occasions?
· What time do we have different meals?
· Does the time of day affect the type of meal we have or foods we eat?
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/c8d2d910-8818-41014ce48451.pdf
2. Breakfast presentation and images
Use the Breakfast presentation PowerPoint to introduce the theme of breakfast to the class. Discuss with the class their usual breakfast, their favourite breakfast and whether they have different breakfasts on special occasions. You may wish to use the Breakfast images to aid your discussion.
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Sheet.aspx?siteId=20§ionId=114&contentId=632
3. Breakfast menu planning
Ask pupils to research breakfast options in restaurants and cafés. Ask pupils to plan a breakfast menu for ‘their restaurant’ using the Breakfast menu sheet (5-11 years). They may wish to include options for people with specific dietary requirements, e.g. vegetarians, lactose intolerant.
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Sheet.aspx?siteId=20§ionId=114&contentId=632
4. Composite lunchtime dishes
Download the Love your lunch poster. Use the poster to discuss choosing a healthy lunch and how composite dishes may be part of a healthy lunch. Composite dishes are dishes that comprise more than one food group, e.g. pizza, lasagne. Using the Composite lunchtime dish cards, ask the pupils to record the components of the dishes on the Composite dish worksheet. Two versions are available to support differentiation.
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/7d8403f9-66d5-4ae6952f8091.pdf
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Sheet.aspx?siteId=20§ionId=85&contentId=692
5. What goes where? lunchtime activity sheet
Download the Love your lunch poster. Use the poster to discuss components of a healthy, balanced lunch. Provide the pupils with the What goes where? worksheet. Ask them to record what they had for lunch today/yesterday in the relevant columns. If there are any empty columns, ask them to suggest a food or drink that they could have included. You could ask them to repeat this throughout the week – are they having variety and balance? Pupils could also create a chart showing school lunches over the week, recording food and drinks consumed. Display these in the classroom or dining hall.
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/attachments/7d8403f9-66d5-4ae6952f8091.pdf
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Sheet.aspx?siteId=20§ionId=85&contentId=692
6. The amazing lunchbox
Read or show The amazing lunchbox story to the class (available as a video or PowerPoint). Ask the pupils to create an amazing lunchbox of their own on the Make a healthy lunchbox worksheet.