Vitamin A*
CONCEPT: General Nutrition
BRIEF SUMMARY
Children enjoy a puppet show and learn about vitamin A.
OBJECTIVES
After completing this activity, children will be able to:
- state that vitamin A is essential for health
- name three good sources of vitamin A
- verbalize the need for their formula, to provide a reliable source of vitamin A
METHODS
Puppet Show
Explain to the children, "Today we are going to learn about vitamin A."
Choose two volunteers to perform the puppet show called, "A Day With Vitamin A." Give them each a puppet (Colleen Carrot and Bobby Broccoli) and a copy of the puppet show script.
After the puppet show, lead a discussion about the puppet show and vitamin A facts. Use the food models or pictures of foods high in vitamin A and the Vitamin A Fact Sheet.
What's Inside the Bag?
Let each child look inside the paper bag to test his/her vision in dim light.
Lead a discussion , asking them questions such as:
- What did you see in the bag?
- Was it dark in the bag?
- What helped you see in the dark?
- Where do we get vitamin A?
- What foods have vitamin A in them?
- Can we get vitamin A from anything besides fruits and vegetables? ( Yes, our formula!!) Stress the importance of their formula as the best source of vitamin A, as well as many other nutrients.
Worksheet
Distribute the activity sheet to the children.
MATERIALS
Puppets--Colleen Carrot and Bobby Broccoli (cut out the carrot and broccoli, enlarge them if desired, and brightly color them) - Puppet show stage
- Puppet show script: "A Day With Vitamin A"
- Food models or pictures of foods high in vitamin A
- Vitamin A Fact Sheet
- Paper bag with pictures of foods high in vitamin A taped inside. Tape the top closed, but leave an opening just large enough to look inside the bag, but not let a lot of light inside.
- Activity Sheet: Vitamin A Crossword Puzzle
(Answers: beginning at the top = broccoli, collards, spinach, turnip greens, carrot, kale, apricots, squash, pumpkin, cantaloupe [going down]) - Pencils
HOME ACTIVITIES
Provide fruits and vegetables that are good sources of vitamin A at meals and snacks (refer to the Vitamin A Fact Sheet for ideas).
* Adapted from the Connecticut Nutrition Education and Training Program, University of Connecticut and State Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs, 1984.