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 sweet potato 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 bite of baked sweet potato.
  • 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

    Immediately before the lesson, ask the children to put on their chef aprons, chef hats, and wash their hands.

Activity

Introduction

Preparing the baked sweet potato snack will work in one 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 Sweet Potato snack with the children in your classroom.

  1. Scrub each sweet potato well. Ask children to assist.
  2. Without the assistance of your class, cut each sweet potato into medallions or thin slices.
  3. Place all sweet potato medallions into a zip top plastic bag and ask children to add 1 TBSP of olive oil, a few shakes of seasoning and (optional) a dash of nutmeg. “Lock” the bag shut.
  4. Ask each child to take a turn shaking the bag.
  5. Open the bag and arrange the sweet potatoes in a thin layer on a baking sheet. Without the assistance of your class, bake for 20 minutes in a 450 degree oven.
  6. Encourage each child try the baked sweet potato treat.

Summary

Enrichment

Using a food scale, weigh one whole sweet potato, two whole sweet potatoes, and three whole sweet potatoes.

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.