LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Identify three different types of food the human body needs; describe a range of health benefits associated with eating the rainbow; evaluate how balanced your own diet is.

HEALTH ED STANDARDS

NHES 7: Practice health-enhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce health risks.

CASEL: Responsible decision-making

KEY VOCAB

nutritious

nutrients

sustained

Lesson Plan: Eat the Rainbow

Figuring out what to eat can be tricky. Read on for a colorful and delicious guide to a perfectly balanced plate.

PREPARING TO READ

Before you read the article “Eat the Rainbow,” ask your students the following pre-reading question:

How does eating a diet full of colorful foods improve your health?

READING AND DISCUSSION

  • Have your students read the article “Eat the Rainbow” independently; read the article out loud to them; or have students partner-read the article out loud.
  • After they’ve read the article, revisit the pre-reading question. Have their answers changed?

BUILDING COMPREHENSION AND VOCAB

Check students’ comprehension of and engagement with the story with the following assessment tools:

  • Comprehension Quiz
  • Vocab Builder

EXPANDING SEL OPPORTUNITIES

Continue the learning journey with the following writing prompt:

Have students imagine they are volunteering at a local community center and are responsible for teaching a class about maintaining a healthy diet. In this activity, they should use what they learned in the article to write a one- to two-page script for a presentation called A DAY EATING THE RAINBOW. Have them start their presentation by introducing the concept of a colorful diet and then continue by providing examples of “rainbow” meals across an entire day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Have them conclude by explaining the body, mind, and mood benefits associated with eating a delicious balance of protein, fat, and carbs.

Print the Lesson Plan

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