4

Module �Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside

Healthy Eating

Lesson Objectives:To introduce the concept of healthy eating. To illustrate that all living things need energy, that we get our energy from food and that nearly all food comes from the farm.

Teacher GuidelinesIt is suggested that the teacher introduces the pupils to the vocabulary and the basic concept before starting the lesson.

Key Words:

energy meals breakfast lunch dinner snack healthy fruit milk vegetables

Remember: Clean hands, clean kitchen, clean food!

What is energy?Everything needs energy to move and work. Cars get their energy from petrol, televisions get their energy from electricity and we get our energy from food.

Food gives us the energy to think, move, walk and talk.

Where does our food come from?All living things need food to live and grow. Plants get their food from the sun and the soil, most farm animals get their food from grass and we get our food from the farm.

Nearly all foods are grown on the farm and then sent to shops and markets to be sold. Some are first sent to factories where they are made into other foods e.g. milk is made into cheese, grain is made into bread [see Cereals & Grasses page 14].

When do we eat?To have the energy to think, move, walk and talk we must eat regular meals. Most people have breakfast in the morning, lunch in the middle of the day and dinner in the evening. Often, if we are hungry between meals we will have a snack.

Curriculum Links:• Science Living Things Environmental Awareness and Care • Geography Human Environments• SPHE Myself and the Wider World

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Module �Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside

A Healthy LunchboxA healthy food is something which is good for us and helps our bodies to grow properly. We should try to eat healthy foods every day. To be healthy, we must also exercise regularly.

There is an apple and lettuce in the lunchbox. Fruit and vegetables are very healthy foods which are good for our hair, skin and eyes. We should eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables in a day.

There is also milk and cheese in the lunchbox. Milk and cheese help our teeth and bones to grow. We should have three portions of food made from milk every day.

Suggested Activities:• Photocopy Activity Sheet page 35.

• Bring a selection of fruit and vegetables to the classroom. Peel and cut them up so that the children can touch, smell and taste if appropriate.

• Illustrate to the children the importance of energy – ask them to try to make an electrical appliance work without it being plugged in.

• Create a poster of the different foods that all living things need to give them energy.

• Conduct a lunchbox survey. Trace all of the contents back to the farm.

• Ask what the children had for breakfast and lunch and what they would like to have for dinner. Count the portions of fruit and vegetables and remind children that everyone should eat at least five portions a day.

• Make a collage of healthy foods with the title “Food gives us energy”.

• For extension material see Modules 2, 3 & 4.

Learning Outcomes:At the end of this lesson children should know that all living things need energy, that we get our energy from food and that all food comes from the farm.

Developed in consultation with

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Module �Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside

Cereals and Grasses

Lesson Objectives:To make children aware that grass is an important food for both animals and humans. To introduce children to the grasses that humans eat i.e. cereals.

Teacher GuidelinesIt is suggested that the teacher introduces the pupils to the vocabulary and the basic concept before starting the lesson.

Key Words:

grass wheat oats barley cereals grains

wheat oats barley

GrassGrass is the most common plant in the world. Grass grows all over the country. It is very important on the farm as it provides food for many animals. For example cattle, goats, sheep and horses eat grass.

We eat grasses too!When grass is left uncut, it grows very tall and seeds will form on the top. We call a field of tall grass a meadow. Humans eat the seeds of tall grasses like wheat, oats and barley.

Curriculum Links:• Science Living Things Environmental Awareness and Care • Geography Human Environments• SPHE Myself and the Wider World

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Module �Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside

Wheat, oats and barley are also known as cereals. Their seeds are called grains and are used to feed animals like chickens and to make food for humans e.g. wheat is used to make bread and oats are used to make porridge.

There are also other cereals like rice and maize (corn). Cereals are also used to make breakfast cereals e.g. Rice Krispies, Corn Flakes, Weetabix.

Suggested Activities:• Photocopy Activity Sheet page 40.

• Discuss the many places that grass grows and all the animals that eat grass.

• As a class project, grow some grass in a plant pot. Children should be present and actively take part in all stages - planting the seeds, watering etc. Monitor growth over time. Discuss the conditions that are necessary for growth. Investigate if the grass will grow in the dark, without water etc.

• Discuss the ways that people eat the grains of grasses - breakfast cereals, bread, cake, biscuits etc. Find pictures of these in magazines and create collages labelled “Grasses I eat for breakfast”, “Grasses I eat for lunch” etc.

• Examine the class lunch boxes and talk about the grasses they contain e.g. wheat makes bread for our sandwiches, wheat and oats are used to make biscuits and various grains are used to make cereal bars.

• Interview a parent, grandparent, relative or friend who bakes, to find out how bread and cakes are made.

• For extension material see Modules 2, 3 & 4.

Learning Outcomes:At the end of this lesson children should be aware of the importance of grass for farm animals. They should also be aware that humans eat grasses known as cereals.

Additional Resources:• www.agriaware.ie • “Agriculture – Cool or What?” Free educational DVD available from Agri Aware

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Module �Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside

Fruit and Vegetables

Lesson Objectives:To introduce the importance of eating fruit and vegetables in a healthy diet. To introduce children to fruit and vegetables grown in Ireland.

Teacher GuidelinesIt is suggested that the teacher introduces the pupils to the vocabulary and the basic concept before starting the lesson.

Key Words:

fruit vegetables healthy apples strawberries potatoes mushrooms

Healthy foodsThere are many different fruit and vegetables grown in Ireland. Fruit and vegetables are very healthy foods. A healthy food is something which is good for us and helps our bodies to grow properly. We should all eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables in a day.

FruitFruit grows on trees and bushes and is generally eaten as a snack. Fruit is usually much sweeter than vegetables.

The main fruits that grow in Ireland are apples, strawberries and other berries like raspberries, blackberries and gooseberries.

We eat other fruits too, like oranges and bananas. Oranges and bananas are not grown in Ireland because the weather is not hot enough. They are sent here from hot countries.

Curriculum Links:• Science Living Things Environmental Awareness and Care • Geography Human Environments• SPHE Myself and the Wider World

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Module �Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside

VegetablesA vegetable is a part of a plant that we eat. We eat vegetables with our dinner. The most popular vegetables grown in Ireland are potatoes and mushrooms. We also grow a lot of other vegetables e.g. carrots, parsnips, onions, broccoli and many more.

Suggested Activities:• Photocopy Activity Sheet page 41

• Conduct a lunchbox survey to find out the types of fruit the children have and discuss whether or not these can be grown in Ireland.

• Ask what vegetables, if any, the children had for their dinner the previous evening. What type of vegetable is the most popular?

• Ask children to draw their favourite fruit and vegetables. These could be cut out and the children could sort them by various criteria e.g. colour, shape.

• Make two class mobiles, one with all the fruits the children can think of and one of vegetables.

• Bring a selection of fruit and vegetables to the classroom. Peel and cut them up so that the children can touch, smell and taste if appropriate.

• Discuss the importance of eating 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day for a growing child [see Healthy Eating page 5]. Ask the children to make a list of ways in which they could incorporate 5 portions of fruit and vegetables into their daily meals.

• For extension material see Modules 2, 3 & 4.

Learning Outcomes:At the end of this lesson children should know that they should be eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day in order to be healthy. They should also be aware of the main fruits and vegetables grown in Ireland.