- Author: Consuelo Cid
- Contributor: Emily Harris
- Contributor: Erika Paggett
Did you know an eggplant and a chili pepper are fruits? First grade students at Huron Elementary know!
This week, all first grade students at Huron Elementary participated in an interactive plant part lesson where students had the opportunity to see, touch, and smell various plant parts.
Some vegetables were new and unfamiliar, like the Daikon. While others, like the carrot, were our much-loved vegetable. Although, students did not see just any carrots- they saw purple and yellow carrots!
Students interest is sparked and they are eager to learn more about the vegetables they observe. Pictured above are first grade teachers Lisa Rodriguez (far left) and Kaylee Cardosa (right).
Nutrition Educator Emily Harris teaches students about roots, stems, and flowers.
Students learned about phytochemicals at the beginning of the year and about the importance of eating a variety, all the colors of the rainbow, of fruits and vegetables. This lesson helped reinforce this concept and showcased all plant parts: root, stem, leaves, flower, fruit, and seeds.
Students also sang along with Ms. Harris:
“Roots, stems, leaves, flower, fruit, and seeds. That's six parts, six parts, six plant parts that plants and people need.”
It has been such a pleasure teaching and encouraging students to live healthier and happier lives!
Good job Huron Elementary and keep up the great work!
- Author: Evelyn Morales
The Central Valley Children's Services Network's (CSN) 35th Annual Sunshine Day is part of the nationally recognized Week of the Young Child celebration. UC CalFresh partners with many agencies to provide nutrition education to families and is proud to have participated in Sunshine Day!
This year the UC CalFresh booth focused on edible plant parts. Children from all ages visited our booth to learn how we eat all of the different parts of the plants.
UC CalFresh had two different activities for children that involved matching the plant part (stem, root, leaf, fruit, flower or seed) to a food. For example, carrots are roots, and celery is a stem.
After matching plant parts the kiddos could draw their favorite plant part on a poster board. This was definitely their favorite part of the booth! Children drew strawberries, carrots, watermelon, grapes and even kale. Afterwards, parents were able to see with their kids favorites were.
Sunshine Day provided a great opportunity for family-centered nutrition education. Parents were surprised at some of the choices their children drew--they had no idea their children enjoyed these healthy foods!
We look forward to participating again next year!
More on the Week of the Young Child from CSN:
This year, the Week of the Young Child (WOYC) was April 05-12, 2014 and the theme was ‘Early Years are Learning Years.' WOYC is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The purpose of WOYC is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs. Children enjoying many hands-on activities and games provided aside from the beautiful atmosphere of Storyland. Families gaining resources from more than 40 Exhibition booths featuring health information and information from a large variety of other children and family services offered throughout the valley.
