NUT AND BEAN ACTIVITY FINDER

Have children research a specific type of nut or bean. Ask them to work with their parents or caregivers to find the item at the grocery store, what is the price, where it grows, when it is in season, how it is harvested, how is it grown, how it is used, such as eaten whole, used in recipes etc. Depending on your class, you may ask them to bring in a sample or they can just bring in a picture, draw or color a picture of the nut or bean, or show the class using a website.

NOTE: If you have any students with nut allergies, do not have students bring in samples.


SQUIRRELLY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

It’s time to gather nuts for the winter! Bring assortment of nuts to class –enough for each student to sort 3-5 nuts by types and colors. Divide class into two teams – TEAM A gathered nuts all season in preparation for winter and TEAM B waited until the last minute to find food to store for the winter. TEAM A’s nuts are at the front of the line in a basket. TEAM B’s nuts are 10 feet away. Both groups have to run to the “hollow trees” (brown painted #10 cans retrieved from school kitchen) to sort the nuts printed on the cans. Each squirrel counts/sorts 3 to 5 nuts by type and color and returns to the forest to gather more nuts and tags the next in line. The first team to correctly sort the nuts wins because they are ready for winter!!!

If you have a student with a nut allergy or do not have the resources to purchase nuts, you can have students cut “nuts” out of brown and white construction paper and use the paper nuts for the relay.


PUMPING UP THE PROTEIN

Divide class in half and have each group form a circle standing shoulder to shoulder. Give two students (one on each end of the group) in each group one bean bag from the bean bags provided in the kit. Have students place the bean bags on their forearm and have them pass the bean bag from arm to arm until each bean bag has made it completely around the circle. While the students are passing the bean bags discuss with them how protein helps build strong muscles, and strong muscles are needed for balance and coordination.


BEAN COUNTER ACTIVITY

Bring in two to three bags of dry beans (try to bring different beans). Pour into a large container and allow children to “scoop” (you can use an actual scoop or a 1/2 cup measuring cup). Have children count out the number of beans they have. Then have them divide based on color or type of bean – for example 9 are black beans, 6 are pinto beans etc. Ask how many black beans do you have? (9) Use the Graph It handout and have students graph the different beans based on number or color. Then ask the students to write how many black beans as a fraction of the total. For younger children, you could have beans already portioned out in snack size plastic bags.


BAG-IT ACTIVITY

Supplies
• Two bags (1 green bag for healthy lean meats and beans and 1 red bag for higher fat meats)
• Food images

Using food models, pictures of food from the accompanying support materials and magazines, or empty boxes and bottles, have students bag the healthy lean proteins in the green bag and higher fat proteins in the red bag, to illustrate we need to eat these less often.

Examples of Healthy Lean Proteins Include: black beans, navy beans, pinto beans, low-fat refried beans, any dried beans, hummus, peanuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, fish (can use pictures of salmon or tuna canned in water), skinless chicken, skinless turkey, lean red meat, such as sirloin, extra lean ground beef, pork loin, lean ham, and eggs.

Examples of Higher Fat Proteins: (these should be eaten less often) – 80% ground beef, fried chicken, fried fish, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, pepperoni.

MIGHTY MUSCLES

Using the Healthy Score Card have student’s track their protein intake for a week; encourage them to make lean meat choices. You may want to send a note to parents asking the whole family to participate. After they complete the activity discuss the different protein group foods they ate and if they tried any new ones.