Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Curriculum

Each grade level (K-5) of the University of Rhode Island SNAP-Ed Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) Nutrition Curriculum consists of 8 brief, flexible interdisciplinary and developmentally appropriate nutrition lessons (see lesson highlights). This curriculum can be taught by health teachers, classroom teachers or school nurses. “Fun Facts” and “The Color Chart” messages (in curriculum) can be read to students when they receive their fruits and vegetables to make it a learning opportunity. To encourage students to try more fruits and vegetables provided by the FFVP, organize a classroom competition in your school by participating in the Rainbow Challenge. Refer to the Rainbow Challenge directions and poster tabs for more information.

How To Use This Curriculum

The nutrition lessons take 10-15 minutes for grades K-2 and approximately 20-30 minutes for grades 3-5. Materials are flexible so teachers can combine lessons or save parts of lessons for later. Most lessons contain activities and worksheets that students can complete individually, with a partner, or in a group. Curriculum connections to language arts, math, science and social studies are included. Bilingual parent letters in English and Spanish are also included for each grade. In grades K-4, the curriculum includes one lesson pertaining to a nutrition themed children’s book.

In addition, students in all grades learn about food groups through USDA MyPlate, a guide for healthy eating. Free MyPlate posters can be obtained at www.fns.usda.gov/tn/myplate-posters.

Lesson Highlights By Grade

• Kindergarten – The lessons teach children the importance of eating different color fruits and vegetables every day and how the colors help their bodies. Young children are given an incentive to try new fruits and vegetables and to monitor their own progress on the “Fruit and Veggie Taster’s Club” poster.
• First Grade – Grade 1 includes an interactive “Eat Colors Be Healthy” poster to teach students how different color fruits and vegetables help their bodies. A lesson and picture cards help teach the children where fruits and vegetables grow.
• Second Grade – Second graders guess each other’s favorite fruits and vegetables by using sensory adjectives to describe them. Students connect math and nutrition as they create a class pictograph of the fruits and vegetables they like the most.
• Third Grade – In a lesson entitled “From Farm to Fork,” third graders learn about the sequence of activities necessary to make plant-based foods available to eat. Students read a letter from a farmer who uses technology to grow fruits and vegetables. “Fruit Fractions” reinforces the concept of fractional parts using pictures of fruit.
• Fourth Grade – Fourth graders learn how to make healthy food choices in a “go, slow, whoa” lesson. The “Market Math” worksheet deals with the concepts of decimals and money. Students will enjoy solving Vegetable Riddles and Trivia Challenge worksheets.
• Fifth Grade – Grade 5 students become aware of how the media affects the foods they choose through a lesson about processed foods. Fifth graders are asked to write a persuasive letter home to their families encouraging them to eat more fruits and vegetables. The “Kitchen Calculations” worksheet deals with the concepts of measurement and conversions.

The Fruit and Vegetable Jeopardy Games can be used for an assessment after all the lessons have been taught. Teachers can access the games for Grades K-2 and Grades 3-5 by using the tabs above.

If you have any questions about the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Curriculum, contact Stephanie Carlile MS, RDN, LDN at scarlile@uri.edu

Team Up for Change

Under Construction! Team Up for Change Teacher Workbook Preview

Coming Soon! Download Curriculum Preview (PDF)

As of September 2024, our Team Up for Change curriculum is undergoing important updates. Check back soon!

The Team Up for Change curriculum is intended for 3-5th grade students. The curriculum consists of 5 lessons incorporating URI SNAP-Ed youth nutrition education videos, teacher/facilitator review sheets, student worksheets, and parent newsletters. Each lesson is approximately 30-45 minutes long, but can be broken up into shorter segments. This curriculum is meant to be taught by classroom or PE/Health teachers with technical assistance provided by URI SNAP-Ed educators. After viewing the preview, please contact us if you would like to receive the full curriculum. In addition, the “Team Up Factile Game” can be used to supplement this curriculum.