We’ve got a delightful medley of classroom activities that are designed to nourish young minds and impart knowledge on healthy eating habits! Rooted in the MyPlate guidelines, these ideas blend education, creativity, and fun into bite-sized lessons. With assorted art projects, interactive challenges, and more, you can transform the complex subject of nutrition into an enjoyable learning experience. Explore 19 innovative MyPlate activities to find inspiration for your upcoming nutrition-based lessons!
1. MyPlate Collage
Art is a fantastic medium to help our learners better grasp a concept. With this in mind, guide your pupils through a hands-on collage craft. Using old magazines, they can carefully select and remove food images to piece together a beautifully bright and balanced meal.
Learn More: Pinterest
2. Food Group Bingo
It’s Bingo time! What kid doesn’t like playing Bingo? Instead of the usual numbers, task your students with marking off the food groups as you call out different names.
Learn More: Scribd
3. MyPlate Mobile
Why not adorn your classroom ceiling with colorful MyPlate mobiles to further ring home the topic of balanced eating? To achieve this, task your learners with creating hanging art pieces using paper cutouts that represent each food group.
Learn More: Pinterest
4. MyPlate Puzzles
Foster your students’ problem-solving skills with assorted MyPlate puzzles. Gather a few varied jigsaw puzzles that depict different food groups. Each piece clicked into place unravels the mystery of nutrition-filled plates.
Learn More: Ultimate Scouts
5. Food Group Relay Race
Let’s get those bodies moving and hearts pumping! Group your learners and pit teams against each other in a fast-paced relay race. The goal? To sort food cards into their respective groups; a fun race of speed, accuracy, and teamwork!
Learn More: YouTube
6. MyPlate Sorting Game
Inspire your learner to step into the shoes of a nutritionist with a fast-paced sorting game! Deal a deck of food cards to your students and challenge them to sort them into their respective food groups on a mat or chart.
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7. Healthy Recipe Contest
Did someone say ‘MasterChef’ competition? Dare your little chefs to whip up their favorite healthy recipes. The catch, however, is that it must encompass all MyPlate food groups!
Learn More: Project Eat Me
8. Farmer’s Market Field Trip
Pack up and head out into the open! Wander through a bustling farmer’s market, where students can touch, smell, and explore various food groups. You and your students are sure to enjoy only the freshest, local produce that your community offers.
Learn More: Growing Minds
9. MyPlate Restaurant Menu
Here’s another creative culinary pursuit to stir the imaginations of your students. Have pupils pair up and design their very own menu; relying on MyPlate guidelines to aid them in choosing dishes.
Learn More: My Plate
10. Healthy Snack Stations
Turn your classroom into a mini-food fair by having your students set up snack stations that represent the various food groups. Other classes can then be invited to maneuver through the stations and assemble a balanced snack plate.
Learn More: Anchored Women
11. MyPlate Cookbook
Create a keepsake from this year by piecing together – a class cookbook! Each student can add their favorite healthy recipe to this trove and enjoy a diverse array of dishes that celebrate the uniqueness of each food group and one another!
Learn More: Pinterest
12. MyPlate Scavenger Hunt
Send your students on a thrilling homework hunt. Their mission? To find food belonging to each group from a provided list. To find foods, students can search through their kitchen cabinets or grocery aisles at the local store.
Learn More: Hy-Vee Kids Fit
13. MyPlate Puppet Show
Let’s give nutrition a chance to shine! Assign each food group a puppet representative. Learners can then use the puppets to enlighten one another about the importance of a balanced diet.
Learn More: YouTube
14. MyPlate Memory Game
Facilitate a quick memory game by laying out pairs of matching food images and having your pupils race to find the matching pairs!
Learn More: Live Over C’s
15. MyPlate Journal
Give your kiddos an opportunity to take an introspective dive into their own dietary habits. Each student can jot down their meals; categorizing them under the right food group as they go. The journal should include categories for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all seven days of the week.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
16. MyPlate Relay Drawing
Sketch, pass, repeat! Set a timer and divide your class into teams to race against the clock to create a balanced meal. Members should take turns drawing foods that adhere to MyPlate guidelines whilst aiming to beat the clock.
Learn More: Wendy Thompson WVU Dietetics
17. MyPlate Infographic
Here’s an opportunity for budding artists to show off their skills! Task your students with designing an infographic that perfectly illustrates MyPlate guidelines. The infographics should also include key information and tips for developing a balanced diet.
Learn More: SSWW
18. MyPlate Fruit and Vegetable Challenge
Here’s a taste exploration any student will love! Invite your students to sample fruits and veggies from each food group whilst blindfolded and make guesses as to what they’re trying. Keep score of correct answers, have learners share their experiences, and discover new favorite flavors.
Learn More: Slide Player
19. MyPlate Relay Quiz
How about a MyPlate-themed trivia relay to wrap up your lesson and test learner understanding? Set up stations for each food group with related questions. Then, invite your kiddos to hustle between stations to test and consolidate their knowledge.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
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