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 third of four melon tasting experiences.
  2. Children will prepare a healthy snack.

Teaching Objectives

  1. Teachers will model healthy eating behavior for children.

Teaching Tips

  • Encourage each child to take one “slurp” of his/her watermelon snack.
  • 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

Materials/Supplies

* Optional

handwashing illustration

Before the Lesson

  • Refrigerate the watermelon after cutting into small pieces.
  • Immediately before the lesson, ask the children to put on their chef aprons, chef hats, and wash their hands.

Activity

Introduction

Making the watermelon slurps will work well in a large group.

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 following recipe with the children in your classroom.

  1. Provide each child with one straw and a zip top plastic bag.
  2. Ask each child to take two spoonfuls of watermelon and place in his/her plastic bag.
  3. Demonstrate to the children how to “lock” the bag with a small opening for their straw.
  4. Encourage children to squish the watermelon and drink the watermelon slurp through their straw.

Summary

Enrichment

Invite a local farmer or rancher to come into the class and talk to the children about his or her job.

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.