Health

Pre-K-2 Standard 7: Students will demonstrate the ability to practice health-enhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce health risks.

• Demonstrate healthy practices and behaviors to maintain or improve personal health.

Source: National Health Education Standards

English Language Arts: Reading for Perspective

K-12: Standard 1

• Students read a wide range of print and non-print texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; to acquire new information; to respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace; and for personal fulfillment. Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary works.

Standards for the English Language Arts, by the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English, Copyright 1996 by the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English. Reprinted with permission.

Source: NCTE/IRA Standards for the English Language Arts

Science: Life Science

• As a result of the activities in grades K-4, all students should develop an understanding of the characteristics of organisms.

Source: National Science Education Standards

Following a lesson on the four major food groups, explore the importance of balanced meals for healthy living. Create a fun story about a friendly caterpillar as it slinks from one food group to the next searching for a healthy snack. Ask open-ended questions about nutritious food choices for growth and development. Encourage learning across curriculum as students create their own books to demonstrate knowledge of food groups.

Figure A

Figure C

Figure D

Figure E

Figure F

Figure G

Figure H

Figure I

Figure B

Supplies Used: Adhesive Letters, Cardstock, Double-Sided Tape, Glue, Hand Punch, Scissors

The teacher will die-cut the materials for student use prior to the lesson.

1. Cut an 8" x 24" piece of orange construction paper or tape two 8" x 12" pieces of construction paper together to create the book. Accordion fold the paper into four equal parts (Figure A).
2. Die-cut the 3" Lowercase Block "O" in the bottom right-hand corner of the folded book, keeping two folds on the left-hand side. This opening will allow the Caterpillar head to peek through each page and food group (Figure B).
3. Die-cut four light green and four dark green LG Basic Beginnings Caterpillars. Make two dark green Caterpillars that face the right and two dark green Caterpillars that face the left.
4. Leave the dark green Caterpillars whole and cut along the perforations on the light green Caterpillars. Layer and adhere every other piece of the light green Caterpillars to the same piece on the dark green Caterpillars (Figure C).
5. Computer print, hand print or use adhesive letters for the title of the book and the four food groups, using contrasting paper.
6. Adhere the title to the cover of the book. Adhere one completed right-facing Caterpillar, placing the head in the circle opening (Figure D).
7. Die-cut the LG Dairy Group cheese from construction paper.
8. Die-cut the LG Dairy Group milk bottle from white and gray paper. Leave the white milk bottle whole and cut highlights from the gray paper. Adhere the highlights to the white milk bottle.
9. Adhere the cheese, milk bottle and "Dairy Group" title to first page of the book.
10. Adhere the left-facing Caterpillar over the milk bottle and align with the Caterpillar on the front cover of the book (Figure E).
11. Die-cut the LG Carrot and the LG Cherries from multiple colors of cardstock or construction paper. Leave the green die-cuts whole and layer the orange Carrot and red Cherries onto the green die-cuts (Figure F).
12. Adhere the Carrot, Cherries and "Fruit & Vegetable Group" to the second page of the book (Figure G).
13. Die-cut the LG Meat Group fish from gray cardstock or construction paper.
14. Die-cut the LG Meat Group drumstick using two shades of brown paper. Cut highlights and layer.
15. Adhere the drumstick, fish and "Meat Group" title to the third page of the book (Figure H).
16. Die-cut the LG Grain Group bread slice from light brown construction paper and highlight with colored pencil.
17. Die-cut the LG Grain Group bowl from two shades of blue paper. Cut along the perforation on the dark blue bowl and adhere the bottom part onto the light blue bowl.
18. Attach the bread slice, bowl and "Grain Group" title to the fourth page of the book. Adhere the second completed right facing Caterpillar to the page, placing the head in the circle opening (Figure I).
19. Attach the last Caterpillar to the back cover, aligning with the other three Caterpillars to complete the book (see Main Photo).