Food Model Activities

Food Rainbow

Grade Level: Preschool / Kindergarten
Rating:

Activity Synopsis
Students match the colors of different fruits to the corresponding colors on a rainbow, and then make and taste "Rainbow Salad."

Activity Outcomes
Students will be able to:

• Name and identify the colors of selected fruits
• Match a fruit's color to the corresponding color on a rainbow
• Count the number of fruits in each rainbow color after all items are categorized
• Participate in a tasting party and talk about the tasting experience
• Work cooperatively to help prepare a "Rainbow Salad"

Materials and Advance Prep

• Prepare a large rainbow (at least 3 feet by 4 feet) in red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple
• Select a variety of fruits from the Food Models set so there is 1 for each student
• Purchase and assemble the ingredients for "Rainbow Salad"
• Large bowl for fruit salad
• Serving spoon for fruit salad
• Heavy-duty plastic knives for cutting fruit
• Cutting boards
• Plastic spoons - 1 per student
• Small cups or bowls for serving "Rainbow Salad" - 1 per student
• Napkins - 1 per student

What to Do

1. Place the rainbow on the floor. Review the names and colors of the rainbow.
2. Distribute one Food Model to each student.
3. For each Food Model:
• Have the child name the food.
• Have the rest of the class tell you the color of the food.
• Have the child place the food on the appropriate rainbow color.
4. When all of the Food Models are matched to the rainbow, help the class count the number of red foods, the number of orange foods and so on.
5. Have the children wash their hands and help prepare a "Rainbow Salad." Let them cut strawberries and grapes in half using a plastic knife, help peel and cut oranges, peel and slice bananas, pour in the yogurt, and stir the fruit.
6. Serve, taste and discuss the experience.
7. Optional: Take a Tasting Survey.

Going Further

Send the recipe for the "Rainbow Salad" home with a letter to parents or caregivers suggesting they make the salad with their children.

Match vegetables to the rainbow colors and have the children make a "tossed salad" or taste fresh, cut vegetables with yogurt dressing.

Rainbow Salad

Ingredients
2 oranges, peeled and sliced
2 cups strawberries, cut into pieces or halves
1 cup green, seedless grapes, cut into halves
1 cup purple, seedless grapes, cut into halves
3 bananas, peeled and sliced
1 cup blueberries
1 cup vanilla yogurt

Directions

1. Mix all of the fruit together carefully.
2. Pour yogurt over the fruit and serve.

Note
Other fruits can be added or substituted. Try to make sure you have red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple colors in the salad. Some examples:
Red: apples, watermelon, grapes
Orange: peaches, nectarines, tangerines, clementines, cantaloupe
Yellow: star fruit, pineapple
Green: apple, honeydew melon, kiwifruit
Purple: plums

Contributed by:
Teresa Glover and Janet Unonu
EMC Parent Center
Washington, D.C.

Rachel Holthoff
Arkansas State University, AR

Debra Kirkeby
UW-Parkside Child Care Center
Kenosha, WI

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