Teaching Nutrition through Games

Fruit Salad Mixup

Submitted by Sue Janowiak, Henderson County

Purpose

  • To review with preschool children the names of various foods from the Fruit Group.

Objective

  • The children will look at the fruit picture cards they are holding to see if they have one of the foods the instructor calls out.

Time

 

  • Approximately 10 - 15 minutes.

Materials Needed

 

  • Simple pictures of various fruits, either drawn by hand or cut from old magazines
  • At least two pictures of each food
  • Enough fruit pictures to give each child one or two
  • Glue stick
  • Poster board or shirt cardboard
  • Clear adhesive paper to cover game pieces for durability, if desired

Preparation

 

  • Use glue stick to mount pictures to poster board.
  • When glue is dry, cut out the pictures.
  • Laminate, or cover the fruit pictures with clear adhesive paper so the pieces will withstand handling.

Activity

 

  • Children sit in a circle on the floor.
  • Each child is given one or two pictures of fruit.
  • When you call out the name of a fruit (for example "Apples") the children who have that fruit should get up and switch places.
  • Continue by calling out the names of other fruits.
  • Play until everyone has had a chance to change places or until the group gets tired of the game.
Note: Use this same game idea to review other food groups such as the Vegetable Group and the Milk Group. Simply use a different set of pictures for the game pieces. The vegetable version of the game might be called "Ready, Set, Zuchinni" and the milk version could be known as "Milkshake Madness". Use your imagination!

Adapted from an idea in the "Snackin' Healthy" 4-H Curriculum, Michigan State University

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