MY AMAZING BODY
A Nutrition Curriculum for First Graders
MY AMAZING BODY
A Nutrition Curriculum for First Graders
Book-based Lessons
Goals
 Lesson 1 - Keeping My Amazing Body Healthy
Students will make
healthy food and
exercise choices by
developing positive
attitudes and
behaviors towards
food and fitness.
My Amazing Body by Pat Thomas
 Lesson 2 - Feeding My Amazing Body
Why Should I Eat Well? by Claire Llewellyn
 Lesson 3 - Keeping My Amazing Body Active
Exercise by Liz Gogerly
 Lesson 4 - Keeping My Amazing Body Rested
Sleep is for Everyone by Paul Showers
 Lesson 5 - Keeping My Amazing Body Clean
Germs Are Not for Sharing by Elizabeth Verdick
Objectives
Students will:
 Increase their consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole
grains.
 Expand the variety of their diets.
 Recognize MyPlate and identify it as a guide to healthy
eating.
 Describe the importance of nutrition, exercise, sleep, and
hand washing to a healthy body.
MY AMAZING BODY
A Nutrition Curriculum for First Graders
Lesson Highlights:
Provides more than 10 hours of
instruction, plus other classroom
enrichment activities.

Teacher Background

Group Book Reading

Lesson Application

Classroom Enhancements

Tasting Activity

Family Flyers

Visual Support Pieces
Students make
healthy food and
exercise choices by
developing positive
attitudes and
behaviors towards
food and fitness.
Meets California State Department of Education’s
Grade-based Standards



Common Core Standards for English Language Arts
Health Framework and Content Standards
Nutrition Competencies
MY AMAZING BODY
A Nutrition Curriculum for First Graders
2003 California Health Framework and
2008 Health Education Content Standards
 Nutrition and Physical Activity emphasized in
grades K, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9-12
 Growth and Development emphasized in
grades K, 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9-12
Meets California
State Department
of Education’s
2010 Common Core
Standards for English
Language Arts.
Content standards met are listed in each lesson.
2010 Nutrition Competencies
Guide the development of curricular materials and
benchmark learning in nutrition education.
Nutrition Competencies are listed for each lesson.
MY AMAZING BODY
Importance of Nutrition Education
Establishing Healthy Habits
Positive habits of healthy eating, adequate
physical activity, sufficient sleep, and proper
hand washing can lead to increased life
expectancy, enhanced quality of life, and
reduced risk of disease.
 Only 2% of children daily meet the
MyPlate recommendations.
 Only 42% of children get 60 minutes of
physical activity.
 Few children get 10-12 hours of sleep.
 Most children do not practice proper
hand washing.
Promoting healthy
eating and physical
activity in childhood,
when important
lifestyle habits are
formed, can provide
lifelong health
benefits for children.
Teachers and Schools are Important Players
Teachers and schools, not only play and important role
in helping students acquire important knowledge and
skills, but also in promoting healthy environments
where these behaviors are valued, nurtured, and
practiced.
MY AMAZING BODY
Role of Schools in Nutrition Education
School Involvement
According to the CDC,
it is unlikely the rate
of childhood obesity
will be significantly
improved without
strong contributions
from schools.
 School Administrators – can assure
that School Wellness and other policies
are of sufficient strength and fully
implemented.
 Teachers – can integrate nutrition
education into daily activities and
create environments that nurture and
support behavior adoption.
 Food Service – can provide healthy
Multiple Benefits
appealing food and appropriate eating
• Schools have opportunities to implement a range of
environments for making healthy
policies to promote student wellness, enhance health
choices.
skills and knowledge, and influence positive behavior
acquisition.
• There are more benefits than just health…research
shows that healthy children also perform better
academically and socially.
MY AMAZING BODY
Role of Teachers in Nutrition Education
Our Amazing Classroom
 Easy to implement ideas that reinforce
the learning.
 Ways to enhance the classroom.
environment to support the learning.
 Offers a secondary book of the
opposing genre for the lesson.
 Provides family supports - Family Time
Flyer – Creating Healthy Habits
Together.
Teachers make the
classroom a warm
and supportive
environment that
instills the joy of
learning in every
student.
Enhancing the Classroom Environment
Teachers can assure that students are not just learning
new knowledge, but adopting new habits that will help
them maintain healthy bodies for optimal growth and
development.
MY AMAZING BODY
Role of Families in Nutrition Education
Family Involvement
 Active partners in nutrition education.
 Engaged in policy development and
volunteer activities.
 Informed of classroom and school
practices and strategies.
 Communicated with through
consultations, newsletters, take-home
sheets, and workshops.
Parents and
families have the
greatest initial
influence on
children’s nutrition
and physical
activity behaviors.
Curriculum Family Supports
• Family Time: Creating Healthy Habits Together Take Home
Sheet – Lesson specific flyer with easy to implement
strategies that reinforce the lesson’s messages.
• Families Have You Tasted Take Home Sheet – One page
sheet on the produce or food tasted in the classroom and an
easy to prepare recipe.
MY AMAZING BODY
Use of Literature
Books Are Used to Teach Nutrition
 Books are a natural way to reach early
elementary students.
 Books provide an emotional
attachment to the content – important
for effective learning.
 Books offer a familiar and interesting
way to stimulate curiosity, build
background, and introduce the lesson
content.
Use of Book Genre
Books were
selected to help
tell the nutrition
message, meet the
SDE CCS, and be
interesting and
engaging for
students.
• Narrative Books – Also called picture or story books, tell a
story based on reality or fiction.
• Information Books – Are non-fiction books and should
provide reliable, documentable information.
Illustrations are an essential part of both types of books.
MY AMAZING BODY
Assessment of Student Learning
Students
understanding of
the lesson content is
critical to students’
application and
adoption of the
nutrition and health
strategies.
Assessments
 Activity 1 – Book Retell and Fact Sheets.
 Activity 2 – Review and Reflect
questions to check understanding and
ability to apply the information.
 A Review the Lesson page is included at
the end of each lesson.
 Pre-Post Student Evaluation for the
entire curriculum is available for
measuring overall knowledge gains.
Educator Evaluation
To help UCCE capture valuable teacher “expert
observer” input on potential changes in students’
knowledge, skill and behavioral changes, an Educator
Evaluation sheet is included at the end of each
lesson.
MY AMAZING BODY
How to Read the Books
How a Book is Read is Critical For:
 Comprehension
 Vocabulary development
 Literacy development
Narrative Books
Students listen for the sequence of the
story (what happens first, next, and in
the end), as well as the problem that
was identified and the solution to the
problem. Students are asked to make
predictions.
Information Books
Students learn something new and
answer questions. They are asked what
they already know about the topic and
what they would like to learn.
Activity 1 in each lesson uses researchbased strategies and CCS for presenting
the book reading activity.
Worksheets for each type of book
are included to retell the story
or book content.
MY AMAZING BODY
Classroom Tasting
Increasing Fruit and Vegetable
Consumption
Tasting of fruits and
vegetables is an
effective way of
introducing students
to new fruits and
vegetables.
 Many children consume less than
recommended amounts.
 Taste preference is a strong predictor of
children’s intake.
 Access and exposure to fruits and
vegetables affects children’s
consumption.
 Children who set goals and have
Let’s Take a Taste
positive feelings towards fruits and
vegetables are more likely to consume • A fruit or vegetable is featured in each lesson.
them.
• Instruction is provided for selecting and preparing
the produce and conducting the tasting.
• A Family Take Home Sheet – Families Have you
Tasted… is provided for each lesson.
MY AMAZING BODY
A Nutrition Curriculum for First Graders
My Amazing Body Lessons
MY AMAZING BODY
Lesson
1
Keeping My Amazing Body Healthy
Students learn how to make good
decisions about their health.
Objectives:
 Describe many things their amazing
body can do.
 Identify the names of body parts
(lungs, heart, muscles, bones and
brains) when describing the benefits
of maintaining a healthy body.
 Identify a good diet, lots of exercise,
plenty of sleep, and good hygiene
(hand washing) as ways to grow and
maintain a healthy body.
My Amazing Body
by Pat Thomas and
illustrated by Lesley Harker
MY AMAZING BODY – Lesson 1
Activity 1 Book Reading
My Amazing Body
Read the book several times, so you are
familiar with the cadence of the text, the
key messages, and where to pause and
discuss content.
Keeping My Amazing Body Healthy
Lesson
1
Keeping My Amazing Body Healthy
Book Reading In Depth
Key Points to Observe:
 Establishing the setting and rapport.
 Read slowly and don’t rush the
reading.
 Use expression and change
intonation.
 Pause and ask questions and
periodically check comprehension.
 Pause and explain new vocabulary.
 Emphasize illustrations.
 Review with questions and
discussion.
 Follow the prompts and instructions
in Activity 1 Book Reading.
My Amazing Body
A look at the book reading.
Click on box for
video
MY AMAZING BODY – Lesson 1
Activity 2
Keeping Me Healthy
Students review information they
learned from reading My Amazing
Body. They learn how their body
works and how they can keep their
body healthy so they can grow, learn,
and play.
Keeping My Amazing Body Healthy
Lesson
1
Keeping Me Healthy
Activity 2
Key Points to Observe:
 How Activity 2 flows and connects
with Activity 1’s book reading.
 Engagement of the students in the
discussion and activities.
 Classroom management tools used
to keep students focused and
engaged.
 Transition between various activities
 Use of the tri-fold board to
emphasize content and reinforce
learning.
 Use of Review and Reflect section of
the lesson.
Keeping Me Healthy
A look at the lesson presentation.
Click on box for
video
MY AMAZING BODY – Lesson 1
Our Amazing Classroom
Enhancing the Learning
Classroom Tasting
 Be a role model.
 Choose non-food items for class
reward programs.
 Avoid selling foods for class fund
raisers.
 Keep the class active.
Narrative Book on
Growing Healthy Bodies
IQ Gets Fit by Mary Ann Fraser
Blueberries…Known for their
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
properties, they are low in calories
and a good source of
phytonutrients, vitamins, and fiber.
MY AMAZING BODY – Lesson 1
MY AMAZING BODY
Lesson
2
Feeding My Amazing Body
Students learn how to keep their bodies
healthy by eating healthy foods.
Objectives:
 Recognize MyPlate as a guide to
healthy eating.
 Classify foods into the five food
groups.
 Understand it is important to eat a
variety of foods from all five food
groups every day.
 Understand foods high in fat and
sugar are sometimes foods and
should be eaten in limited amounts.
Why Should I Eat Well?
by Claire Llewellyn and
illustrated by Mike Gordon
MY AMAZING BODY – Lesson 2
Activity 1 Book Reading
Why Should I Eat Well?
BEFORE READING introduce the book,
activate prior knowledge, grab interest,
and predict the content.
MY AMAZING BODY – Lesson 2
Activity 2
Using MyPlate to Eat Well
Students are introduced to MyPlate.
They classify foods according to the
five food groups and identify
sometimes foods that belong on the
side of My Plate.
MY AMAZING BODY – Lesson 2
Our Amazing Classroom
Enhancing the Learning
Classroom Tasting
 Daily review the school lunch menu.
 Integrate nutrition into other
subjects.
 Describe and discuss food in a
positive context.
 Do classroom food tastings.
 Offer healthy choices for classroom
celebrations.
Information Book on Healthy Eating
What Should I Put on My Plate?
Sugar Snap Peas…Eaten raw or
cooked, they are an excellent
source of vitamin C important for
fighting infection. A cup full
contain as much vitamin C as a half
of a orange.
MY AMAZING BODY – Lesson 2
MY AMAZING BODY
Lesson
3
Keeping My Amazing Body Active
Students learn how to keep their bodies
healthy by regular exercise.
Objectives:
 Identify that daily physical activity is
needed to promote healthy growth
and development.
 Identify that children their age need
at least 60 minutes of physical
activity every day.
 Describe a variety of physical
activities they can do at home and
school.
Exercise
by Liz Gogerly and
illustrated by Mike Gordon
MY AMAZING BODY – Lesson 3
Activity 1 Book Reading
Exercise
DURING THE READING pause to
emphasize text and illustrations and
discuss the key points of the book.
MY AMAZING BODY – Lesson 3
Activity 2
Keep on Moving!
Students build on the book reading
and learn there are many ways to be
active. They learn the health
benefits of physical activity.
MY AMAZING BODY – Lesson 3
Our Amazing Classroom
Enhancing the Learning





Classroom Tasting
Be a role model.
Chart class progress.
Get the students up and moving.
Exercise as a filler activity.
Use an exercise cube.
Information Book on Physical Activity
Exercise by Sharon Gordon
Sweet Potatoes…A powerhouse of
nutrients; one serving provides a
day’s requirement of vitamin A and
they are a rich source of betacarotene and fiber.
MY AMAZING BODY – Lesson 3
MY AMAZING BODY
Lesson
4
Keeping My Amazing Body Rested
Students learn how to keep their bodies
healthy by getting plenty of sleep.
Objectives:
 Identify that sleep is an important
part of maintaining a healthy body.
 Describe that sleep is important for
the body to grow, heal, and fight
infection.
 Describe that sleep is important for
the brain to remember, pay
attention, and solve problems.
 Know they need at least 10 hours of
sleep a night for a healthy body.
Sleep is for Everyone
by Paul Showers and
illustrated by Wendy Watson
MY AMAZING BODY – Lesson 4
Activity 1 Book Reading
Sleep is for Everyone
AFTER THE READING review the list of
things students wanted to learn and ask
questions to reinforce and clarify the
learning.
MY AMAZING BODY – Lesson 4
Activity 2
Sleep…Getting Ready for a New Day
Students learn they need at least 10
hours of sleep every night for the
bodies and their brains to work their
best.
MY AMAZING BODY – Lesson 4
Our Amazing Classroom
Enhancing the Learning




Classroom Tasting
Start an 8 o’clock club.
Reinforce the sleep message.
Start sleep logs.
Be a role model.
Information Book on Sleep
How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night
by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
Dried Apricots…Like other dried
fruits, dried apricots are filled with
vitamins and minerals. Their rich
orange color comes from betacarotene and vitamin A.
MY AMAZING BODY – Lesson 4
MY AMAZING BODY
Lesson
5
Keeping My Amazing Body Clean
Students learn how to keep their bodies
healthy by doing proper hand washing.
Objectives:
 Identify hand washing (and good
hygiene) as one of the ways to feel
healthy and maintain a healthy body.
 Describe that washing their hands
for 20 seconds kills germs that can
make them sick.
 Identify at least three situations
before and after which they should
wash their hands.
 Demonstrate the steps to proper
hand washing.
Germs Are Not For Sharing
by Elizabeth Verdick and
illustrated by Marieka Heinlen
MY AMAZING BODY – Lesson 5
Activity 1 Book Reading
Germs Are Not For Sharing
AFTER THE READING help the students
“retell the story” by completing the Story
Retell or Fact Sheet.
MY AMAZING BODY – Lesson 5
Activity 2
Wash Your Hands!
Students learn how germs spread,
practice proper hand washing, and
make a tissue box cover to remind
their families to wash their hands.
MY AMAZING BODY – Lesson 5
Our Amazing Classroom
Enhancing the Learning




Classroom Tasting
Provide tissues in the classroom.
Compliment good behaviors.
Post reminders in bathroom stalls.
Schedule time for students to wash
hands before lunch and when
handling food.
Narrative Book on Hand Washing
Wash Your Hands! By Tony Ross
Colorful Bell Peppers…All colors of
bell peppers are excellent sources
of vitamin C and good sources of
vitamins A and E. They have more
vitamin C than a serving of
oranges.
MY AMAZING BODY – Lesson 5
MY AMAZING BODY – Web Supports
Public Site for Teachers Implementing the Curriculum
Welcome! We are pleased you are partnering with the University of Californi,a Division
of Agriculture and Natural Resources EFNEP to bring nutrition education to your
students. You play an essential role in helping students acquire important nutrition
knowledge and skills, as well as promoting healthy environments where these behaviors
are valued, nurtured, and practiced.
Permission is Granted - As an enrolled teacher in the UCCE Youth EFNEP, permission is
granted for you to print the lesson support pieces, student handouts, and family takehome sheets for classroom use only. No other part of these materials may be
reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form
or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without
written permission of the author.
Items Provided - Student sheets for book reading, family take home sheets, teacher
evaluation, and instructions and visual support pieces for delivering Activity 2.
County Website - You are encouraged to develop a link to the state site.
MY AMAZING BODY – Web Supports
Password Protected Site for UCCE Educators
Resources:

Student Completion Certificates for My Amazing Body

Promotion Flyer for My Amazing Body

My Amazing Body Jeopardy Game

Pre-Post Evaluation

My Amazing Body PowerPoint Presentation
MY AMAZING BODY – Credits
Developer:
Sharon K. Junge, University of California Cooperative Extension, Emeritus
Contributor:
Rosemary Carter, University of California Cooperative Extension,
Placer/Nevada Counties
Translation:
Myriam Grajales-Hall, ANR News and Outreach in Spanish
Pilot Testing:
Rosemary Carter, University of California Cooperative Extension,
Placer/Nevada Counties
Layout and Design:
Annette Cosgrove, University of California Cooperative Extension,
Placer/Nevada Counties
Slide Presentation:
Developed by Sharon K. Junge
Video by Rosemary Carter and Molly Klumb
Layout by Annette Cosgrove
©2013 by the Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce the handouts
and home activities for workshop sessions. No other part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored
in a retrival system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, without written permission of the author.