Imagine IT Timeline
Initially, my project began focused on what my students knew about nutrition and what the implication was when there was lack of an adequate nutrition. These initial steps took the form of using visuals aids to get the students’ attention on the nutrition issue. Then, throughout the implementation of appropriate reading passages such as “Food For Life” and “What Kids Eat” among others, students were able to discuss and draw inferences on what they thought nutrition was and why food is needed. Now that my students are equipped with some background knowledge, it’s time to stop talking and have students take charge of their own health. Since middle grade students like the truth and base their assumptions and build their opinions on true facts, I will use this statement to incorporate more research mini-projects and experiments that explain to them, with numbers and facts, the effects of what they eat. Along with the research mini- projects, I want my students to be involved in the reality of the eating issue by going out of their comfort zone and asking other students about their eating behaviors; by observing and taking note of what they are eating at home, and at the school, comparing the number of servings they should be eating and what they are actually consuming and by being able to read and understand a food label in front of them when having their usual food. Since we learn more by experimenting directly with what we want to learn, I want to integrate hands-on activities where students have to perform some experiment, or prepare some dishes. Finally, students know that exercise is good for their bodies and minds, and an awareness of a healthy diet includes the influence of a work out. So I want to include a mini-plan for students to do exercise twice a day for two minutes .My hope is that at the end, my students will really understand why they need to eat foods that are rich in nutrients and like the MyPlate campaign expresses: “Find a healthy eating style that reflects their preferences, culture, traditions, and budget and maintain it for a lifetime”