HELP WANTED: JUNIOR CHEFS A WebQuest for 4th Grade designed to promote healthy eating habits

INTRODUCTION After reading A Bad Case of Stripes, we discussed the theme of the story. We shouldn’t worry about what others think of us and it’s ok to be different. Carmilla learned how to take care of her mind. Now, you are going to learn another way to take care of the your body. We need to make sure that we eat a variety of foods from different food groups. Eating healthy gives us the energy we need to play and motivation to learn.

SCENARIO The school principal has decided to change the school lunch menu because the students are only eating the sugary snacks that comes with the lunch and are throwing away the rest of the lunch. He is hiring junior chefs, that’s you, to create a school lunch menu for one school week that is both healthy and delicious for students. Before you get started, click on the link below to see the harmful effects of eating sugar. jr. brainpop

ESSENTIAL QUESTION How can we eat a balanced diet to stay healthy?

TASK Are you ready to be hired as junior chefs? First, you will need to learn about the five food groups and the reasons your body needs to eat a variety of foods from these groups. Next, you will have to work together with your assigned group to create a healthy lunch menu for one school week that the students will enjoy eating. Finally, your group will also design a power point slide show for the principal and the school cafeteria staff!

CHEF ROLES Part 1: Individual Work Decide who in your group will research each of the five food groups. Use the graphic organizer located on Visual Tools slide as you research the benefits of eating your food group. When you have finished gathering your facts, you will write a detailed paragraph on your food group. Use the graphic organizer located on the Visual Tools slide to write your paragraph. You have a variety of books and websites to select from to complete your research. The Five Food Groups

CHEF ROLES Part 2: Group Work After completing your research for your food group, you will now work with your group to create healthy lunch meals for one school week (five days). Work with your group to complete the MyPlate graphic organizer to plan your meals for five days. You will need five MyPlate organizers. Each food group must be represented. You can use the Healthy Plate visual on this slide to help you. You may draw, cut out pictures from magazines, or print out computer images to complete the plates. Remember you want to create healthy meals and ones that students will eat. Be creative in developing your menu! Healthy Plate

CHEF ROLES Part 3: Presentation Now you’re ready to present your research as a power point slide show! As a group, all will be responsible for designing a title slide and a menu slide. Individually you will be responsible for creating a slide that explains the healthy benefits of the food group you researched. Follow the Rubric located on the slide labeled Rubric.

RESOURCES WEBSITES jr. brainpop eating right (Annie and Moby explain why it is important to eat right.) jr. brainpop food groups (Annie and Moby discuss the 5 important food groups.) myplate.gov (The USDA explains the importance of each food group.) myplate portions (The USDA explains how to divide your plate into healthy portions.)

RESOURCES BOOKS Read Aloud Version Listen to Foods We Eat!

VISUAL TOOLS Use this graphic organizer while researching your food group. Use this graphic organizer to write your paragraph.

VISUAL TOOLS Use this graphic organizer to plan your meals. Use this graphic organizer to create your weekly lunch menu.

RUBRIC

CONGRATULATIONS! You have met the requirements to be hired as junior chefs! Now you know how to make healthy food choices so your body will grow, have energy, and stay healthy! Thank you for all of your hard work!