Lesson Plan
Food Detectives Lesson Plan
Students will identify the five food groups, sort common foods into each group, and create a balanced meal using the Healthy Plate model.
Building foundational nutrition knowledge helps 3rd graders make healthier choices and supports state health standards by reinforcing food group recognition and balanced meal planning in a small-group setting.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
Step 1
Warm-Up Discussion
10 minutes
Step 2
Food Group Sorting Activity
15 minutes
Step 3
Nutrition Fact Scavenger Hunt
10 minutes
Step 4
Healthy Plate Challenge
15 minutes
Step 5
Reflection & Discussion
10 minutes
Slide Deck
Food Detectives!
Learning Objectives
Warm-Up: Favorite Foods
The Five Food Groups
Activity 1: Food Group Sorting
Activity 2: Nutrition Fact Scavenger Hunt
Activity 3: Healthy Plate Challenge
Reflection & Discussion
Next Steps & Bonus Challenge
Worksheet
Worksheet
Worksheet
