Fruit and Vegetable Character Crowns*
CONCEPT: General Nutrition
BRIEF SUMMARY
Look at a book about different kinds of fruits and discuss their characteristics. Then, take a look at some real fruits and make fun fruit and vegetable crowns together.
OBJECTIVES
After completing this activity, children will be able to:
- identify fruits as "yes" foods
- state that fruits give them vitamins and minerals
- recognize and name different types of fruits
METHODS
- Read the story I Eat Fruit by Hannah Tofts.
- Lead a discussion as you are reading the story. Pause at each fruit and let the children look at each page. Ask:
- What shape is it?
- What color is it?
- What does it feel like?
- What does it taste like?
- Is it sweet or sour?
- Does it have seeds?
- Where are the seeds?
- Is it a "yes" food or a "no" food?
- Are fruits good for you? Why?
- Choose a few of the fruits to have on hand. Cut the fruit in half and allow the children to look, touch, and taste them.
- Fruit and Vegetable Crown activity:
- Give each child a page of fruit and vegetable characters to color.
- Help the children cut out their colored characters and staple, glue, or tape them onto a construction paper strip.
- Staple the two ends of the construction paper strip together to fit the child's head.
MATERIALS
- Book: I Eat Fruit by Hannah Tofts, published by Zero to Ten, 1998. ISBN: 1-84089-027-4.
- Fresh fruit to cut and examine
- Cutting board
- Knife
Fruit and vegetable characters- Crayons
- Construction paper strips
- Stapler or glue or tape
- Scissors
HOME ACTIVITIES
- Take time when shopping or preparing meals and snacks to discuss where different fruits and vegetables come from.
- Designate a day of the week to try a new fruit or vegetable and allow your child to help choose the "fruit or vegetable of the week".
*Activities adapted from the Connecticut Nutrition Education and Training Program, University of Connecticut and State Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs, 1984.
*This activity is adapted from NET Nutrition Education, Choose Well, Be Well: A Curriculum Guide for the Primary Grades, California State Department of Education, 1982.