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Overview

​​​​​​​​Through programs, policies, and learning opportunities, schools play a key role in establishing positive environments that promote and support healthy practices and behaviors such as regular physical activity and good nutrition (CDC 2017a). Kindergarten through Grade 3 is an opportune time for students to learn how to choose nutritious foods and make physical activity part of their daily lives. Proper nutrition and information on how to make healthy food choices is important for t​heir growth, development, and overall health.

The Orange County Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness or completeness of this outside information. Further, the inclusion of links to particular items in hypertext are not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed or products or services offered on these outside sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites.​​​

Information and Resources

Choose MyPlate

​Explore MyPlate resources including food group information, tip sheets, recipes, infographics, print materials, quizzes, videos, toolkits, and more.​​​​​

Team Nutrition

Team Nutrition is an initiative of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to support the child nutrition programs through training and technical assistance for food service, nutrition education for children and their caregivers, and school and community support for healthy eating and physical activity.​

Nutrition Education Resource Guide for California Public Schools, Kindergarten through Grade Twelve (CDE 2016)

The purpose of this guide is to provide an instructional resource for California schools, from kindergarten through grade twelve, to implement effective, standards-based nutrition education programs for students.​​

Physical Education Framework for California Public Schools, Kindergarten Through Grade 12

The Physical Education Framework for California Public Schools, Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve supports the development, implementation, and evaluation of standards-based physical education programs and instruction.​​

Curriculum and Lessons

Discover MyPlate - USDA

Discover MyPlate meets Kindergarten education standards for Math, Scien​ce, English Language Arts, and Health using the 6 ready-to-go and interactive lessons.

Serving Up MyPlate: A Yummy Curriculum - USDA

Serving Up MyPlate is a collection of classroom materials that helps elementary school teachers (Grades 1-6) integrate nutrition education into Math, Science, English Language Arts, and Health.

Let’s Eat Healthy - Dairy Council of California

The Dairy Council of California offers a K-12 nutrition education curriculum as well as games, activities, tip-sheets, and community resources about healthy ea​ting and physical activity.

Center for Ecoliteracy - Nourishing Students: Enrichment Activities for Grades K-5

These fun, flexible, cross-curricular enrichment activities help children learn how fruits and vegetables grow, how they get from the field to the plate, and what makes each unique. Through observations, games, and movement, children also build skills in critical thinking, listening, memory, and concentration.​

Book List

Kindergarten - Grade 3

Classroom Activities

OCDE Desks
  • ​Participate in ReThink Your Drink​ ​activities to help students lear​n about healthy beverage choices. 
  • Make a class collage of healthy breakfast foods.​​​

Partnerships

​Partnering with the Family​​

  • ​​Invite parents, guardians, and caretakers to enjoy simple healthy recipes created by students with the assistance of the teacher​.
  • Encourage parents, guardians, and caretakers to share family recipes and foods served at celebrations.
  • Invite parents, guardians, and caretakers to participate in physical activity with their students at school.
  • Create a class cookbook to share with families.​


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​​Partnering with your School​​​

  • Visit the school cafeteria to see and learn about healthy breakfast and lunches.
  • Invite the cafeteria manager to speak to students about healthy eating and tasty foods offered at school.
  • Consider starting a community garden or gardening area at your school​​​​.

​​Partnering with your Community​​

  • ​Visit a local farm, farmers market, or community garden in your area. 
  • ​Identify shared spaces for physical activity like parks in the community. 
  • Start a 'community board' in your classroom to post nutrition and physical activity events happening in the community (e.g. walk/runs, food fairs, cooking classes, bike rides, fitness tips, healthy recipes)​​​​​​​.
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