About

Purpose

The purpose of this lesson is to introduce a new food to the children in your classroom. The more times children are exposed to new foods, the more likely they are to eat and enjoy these foods in the future.

Overview

In this lesson, children will help prepare a healthy snack.

Learning Objectives

  1. Children will complete the fourth of four cucumber tasting experiences.
  2. Children will help prepare a healthy snack.

Teaching Objectives

  1. Teachers will model healthy eating behavior for children.

Teaching Tips

  • Encourage each child to take one bite of cucumber.
  • Remember that the more times children are exposed to a new food the more likely they are to develop a taste preference for that food.
  • Children are more likely to try a new food if an adult models the behavior!

Prep Info

knife and cutting board

Equipment Required

materials illustration

Materials/Supplies

* Optional

handwashing illustration

Before the Lesson

  • Prepare all fruits and vegetables as needed.
  • Immediately before the lesson, ask the children to put on their chef aprons, chef hats, and wash their hands.

Activity

Introduction

Making the cucumber flowers will work well in small groups.

Remind children that anytime chefs make food, they wash their hands; and great chefs always taste the food that they make.

Words to Use

Activity Description

Prepare the cucumber flowers with the children in your classroom.

  1. Demonstrate to the children how to make a cucumber flower.
    • Using a cucumber piece as the center of the flower, arrange bell pepper pieces and other optional fruits and vegetables as the petals. Taste your cucumber flower.
  2. Encourage each child to create his/her own cucumber flower.
  3. Encourage each child to taste the cucumber and other fruits and vegetables that make up his/her edible art.

Summary

Enrichment

Ask children what colors the different petals are on their cucumber flowers.

Attention Teachers!

Following this activity, please fill out the teacher’s weekly log form for this lesson.

Weekly Log

Attention Teachers!

Following this activity, please fill out the teacher’s weekly log form for this lesson.