Food Model Activities

Get a Feel for Food

Grade Level: Preschool / Kindergarten
Rating: Not Yet Rated

Activity Synopsis
Students try to describe the size, shape and feel of a food hidden in a "feely bag" and then select the Food Model from a group that corresponds to the food. In a tasting party afterwards, they sample the food and describe the color, taste and smell

Activity Outcome
Students will be able to:

• Describe the characteristics of a food after they feel it
• Select a Food Model from a group that corresponds to the food they feel
• Describe the color, smell and taste of a food after they taste it

Materials and Advance Prep

• Construct a "feel bag" by pushing a small plastic container into a large men's sock'
• Select 5 - 10 Food Models for foods that can be easily identified by touch, such as:
  
  • Peanuts
  • Hard Cooked Egg
  • Orange
  • Carrot
  • Apple
  • Tomato
  • Crackers
  • Peach
  • Pretzel
  • Banana
  • Waffle
  • Pop corn
• Obtain the actual foods that correspond to the Food Models; make sure you have enough of one or more foods for children to taste
• Place of one the foods in the feely bag; keep the other foods out of sight

What to Do

1. One at a time, let each child reach into the feely bag and feel the food. Tell them to think about what food is in the bag - but keep it a secret.
2. After everyone has had a turn, ask questions that enable the children to describe the size, shape and feel of the food.
3. Ask a child to select a Food Model that they think corresponds to the food in the "feely bag." Ask the other children to clap if they agree or put their hands in their laps if they don't agree.
4. Remove the food from the bag to confirm its identity. Have children close their eyes as you place another food in the "feely bag."
5. Repeat until the class identifies all of the foods.
6. Conclude with a tasting party of one or more of the foods. Have children wash their hands before eating.
7. As children taste each food, have them describe the color, small and taste.
8. Optional: Take a Tasting Survey.

Contributed by:
Shari Birkholz
Tate's School of Discovery
Knoxville, TN

D'Arcy Purcell
Metro Community College Childcare
Omaha, NE

Denise Sorensen
Goldenrod Hills CAC Head Start
Wisner, NE

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