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 taste test different types of potatoes.

Learning Objectives

  1. Children will complete the second of four sweet potato tasting experiences.
  2. Children will describe if sweet potato and another type of potato are similar or different in appearance, smell and taste.

Teaching Objectives

  1. Teachers will model healthy eating behavior for children.

Teaching Tips

  • Encourage each child to try one bite of both potatoes.
  • The more times children are exposed to novel foods the more likely they are to like the new food.
  • Children are more likely to try a new food if you model the behavior!

Prep Info

knife and cutting board

Equipment Required

materials

Materials/Supplies

* Optional

Before the Lesson

  • Prepare samples of mashed sweet potato and regular mashed potato for each child. Please do not add butter. Consider leaving the skin on the potatoes for added nutritional benefits.

An easy way to prepare mashed potatoes and sweet mashed potatoes:

  1. Place washed and peeled potatoes in a pot and add water, covering all potatoes.
  2. Bring water to a boil, reduce heat and simmer. Cover for 15 minutes or until tender.
  3. Drain water. Add skim or 1% milk or any herbs if desired. Mash. and steam.

Activity

Introduction

This activity will work well at tables in small groups. Each table should have two plates: one plate with samples of mashed sweet potato and one plate with regular mashed potato.

Words to Use

Activity Description

  1. > Gather the children in small groups at their tables after they have washed their hands.
  2. Ask the children what food is in the middle of the table. Remind the children of when they were food detectives. The children may not recognize sweet potatoes in mashed form. Explain to the children that the other food on the table is regular mashed potato.
  3. Instruct each child to take a sample of sweet potato.
  4. After every child has a sample, ask the children to smell the mashed sweet potato. Ask the children how the mashed sweet potato smells.
  5. Encourage each child to take at least one bite of sweet potato.
  6. After everyone has smelled and tasted the sample, ask the children if they liked it.
  7. Repeat this for the regular mashed potatoes.
  8. Ask the children if the different types of potatoes looked the same or looked different, smelled the same or smelled different, tasted the same or tasted different.

Summary

Enrichment

Ask the children in your classroom how many potatoes can fill a small bucket. After every child has suggested a number, fill a bucket with potatoes, counting each one.

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.