MyPlateBraceletLessonPlan—GradesK–4
AdaptedfromMaricopaAgricultureCenterbyHelenIdzorek,RitaAbelandKatieGarrity
Objective:
Studentswillunderstandthecomponentsofabalanceddietusingbeadstorepresent
MyPlate.
MaterialsNeeded:
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Beads(red,green,purple,tan,blue,orange,andclear);enoughbeadswillbeneededfor
eachstudenttomakeabracelet.
Scissors
MyPlatehandout–aguideandexplanationofabalanceddiet.
Foryoungerstudents,pipecleanerswillbeusedtoputthebeadsonforthebracelet.
Forolderstudents,athickstringcanbeusedtoputthebeadsonforthebracelet.
Beadcolors
− Fruit:red–3foreachstudent
− Vegetable:green–3foreachstudent
− Protein:purple
− Grain:tan
− Dairy:blue
− Physicalactivity:orange
− Water:clear
LessonandDiscussion
“Whatkindsoffoodsdoourbodiesneedtogrowandbehealthy?”
1. Vegetables=Green.Halfourplateshouldbevegetablesandfruit.Vegetableshave
vitamins,minerals,andfiber.“Canyounamedifferentvegetables?Whichkindsdoyou
liketoeat?”Eatlotsofcolors:darkleafygreens,orangeandyellowcarrotsandsquash,
redtomatoes,andwhitecauliflower.
2. Fruit=Red.Halfourplateshouldbevegetablesandfruit.Fruitisnaturallysweetand
juicy.Fruitisfullofvitamins,fiber,andwater.“Fruitissweetanddelicious.Whatkinds
offruitsdoyoueat?Whatcolorsarefruit?”Eatarainbowoffruit.Orangeoranges,red
strawberries,greenapples,purpleplums,blueblueberries,yellowpineappleand
bananas.
3. Grain=Tan.Eatlotsofwholegrains.Grainsprovideyourbodywithenergy,fiber,
vitamins,andminerals.“Canyounamesomewholegranfoods?”Grainsarefoodslike
whole-wheatbread,whole-graintortillas,brownrice,oatmeal,andwhole-wheatpasta.
4. Protein=Purple.Golean.Proteinfoodsbuildstrongmuscles.“Whichproteinfoods
comefromanimals?Whatkindsofproteinfoodscomefromplants?”Proteinfoods
includebeans,nutsandseeds,gamemeat,chicken,leanbeef,fish,andpork.
5. Dairy=Blue.Choosenon-fatand1%.“Doyouknowwhyourbodiesneeddairyfoods?”
Dairyfoodshavecalciumandhelpourbonesgrowstrongandhelpourteethtobe
healthy.Dairyfoodsincludemilk,cheese,andyogurt.Otherfoodsthatprovidecalcium
aresoymilk,tofu,andalmondmilk.
6. PhysicalActivity=Orange.Movingourbodiesiscalledphysicalactivity.Thisisnota
food,butjustasimportantforourhealth.Weneedtomoveourbodieseverydayfor60
minutes.“Whatareyourfavoritewaystomoveyourbody?”Wecanjump,run,dance,
ski,sled,walk,swim,andplayballgames.
7. Water=Clear.Drinkwaterinsteadofjuiceorsoda.Waterhelpsusstayhealthyand
grow.“Doyouknowhowmuchofourbodyiswater?”Ourbodiesaremadeof60%
water.Thatismorethanhalfofwhatourbodyismadeof.Drinkwatereverydaytohelp
replenishwhatisinourbodies.
Activity
“Nowwearegoingtocreateabracelet.Wewillusethedifferentcoloredbeadsto
representthevariousfoodgroups.
Whatcolorswillhalfofourbraceletbe?”Wewillusethreeofeachofthefollowingcolors:
vegetables–greenbead,fruit–redbead.Thisshowsthatourplatesshouldbehalf
vegetablesandfruit.Wewilluseonebeadforeachofthefollowingcolors:purple,tan,
blue,orange,andclear.
Havethebeadsinsmallplasticbagsoradividedbeadbox.
Encouragestudentstohelpeachotherfindtheappropriatecolorsforeachcategoryof
MyPlate.
Review
Aftercompletingabracelet,revieweachbeadandwhatitrepresents.Haveyounger
studentspointtothecorrectspotontheirMYPlateminiposter.
Thenaskstudentstoweartheirbraceletshomeandsharewithsomeonewhateachbead
represents/means.
Foryoungerchildren,usepipecleanerstostringthebeads.Forolderchildren,thickstring
canbeused.
This material was funded by the USDA/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and USDA/National
Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program.
FAMILY
NUTRITION
PROGRAM
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides nutrition assistance to people
with low income. It can help you buy nutritious foods for a better diet. To find out more, contact
907-465-3347. UAF is an AA/EO employer and educational institution.
3-2017