Nutrition Lesson Plan- Cooking With Healthy Recipe Ingredients

May 31, 2010

About this Lesson Plan

Subject: Health/ Nutrition/Math/Computer skills
Duration: 20-30 minutes
Grades: 3-5
Ages: 7-13
Reading Levels: Intermediate
Prerequisite Knowledge and Skills: Basic computer & mouse skills, Hand-eye coordination

Cooking Game Lesson Plan

Topic/task	Objective	Domain and Level
Promote healthy food choices	Students will identify and select the food ingredient that will make the recipe healthier.	Cognitive – Knowledge Cognitive – Analysis
Promote healthy nutrition messages	Students will read the healthy messages associated with cooking.	Affective – Receiving
Promote the enjoyment of nutrition	Students will create a virtual pancake and decorate it.	Affective – Receiving
Practice literacy skills	Students will associate the key food ingredient on the recipe with its food image.	Affective – Knowledge
Practice following directions skill	Students will read the directions and perform the appropriate action.	Cognitive - Comprehension
Practice measuring skills	Students will determine the amount of each ingredient required to make the recipe.	Cognitive – Evaluation
Reinforce computer skills	Students will click the mouse to select the desired amount of ingredient for the recipe.	Psychomotor – Coordination

Chef Solus Cooking Academy Game:

Cooking Academy is a virtual cooking game in which the student must successfully make a pancake recipe. By the end of the nutrition game, the student will make three virtual pancakes. The goal of the nutrition game is to teach the students about how simple food substitutions can make recipes healthier and the joy of cooking!

The cooking game is divided into three parts:

mixing ingredients
stirring ingredients
cooking ingredients

At the end of each section, the student will receive a grade for how well they performed the cooking steps. Once the student has completed making the pancakes, if they have scored enough points, they will be able to decorate their pancakes with a choice of toppings. A final score is given at the end of the game. Bonus points are given for making healthier choices!

Each cooking phase of the game “Cooking Academy”

Mixing the ingredients:

The first part of the game requires the student to select and measure the ingredients. The student must follow the recipe direction and enter the ingredients in the correct measured amount. The recipe is available at all times by clicking on the word “recipe”. There is no game penalties for accessing the recipe to review ingredients. The student will get more points for selecting two healthier ingredients.

The student will receive more points for choosing whole wheat flour instead white flour

The student will receive more points for selecting nonfat milk instead of whole milk

Once the student completes the task of measuring and mixing the ingredients, the game will give the student a grade depending on the ingredients chosen and the accuracy of the measurements. This section of the game helps students improve their measurement skills.

Stirring the ingredients: Next, the student will have to mix the ingredients. Using the mouse, the student will have to stir the bowl by clicking on the highlighted yellow circle causing the spoon to stir faster. The student must reach the required level of speed when stirring.

Cooking the pancakes:

This section is comprised of three cooking actions.

Spray the pan before cooking the pancakes
Pour the pancake mix into the pan
Flip the pancake to complete cooking it

Decorate the pancakes: Healthy messages are given for each of the toppings. Extra points for selecting healthy toppings.

Materials:

Computer and Internet access, the latest Flash and Shockwave players installed, download free from Adobe

Teaching Tips:

Have the student review the Chef Solus Healthy Cooking Tips Sheet as part of their lesson before they play the game.

Procedure:

Have the students bring in a favorite family recipe to class before beginning the nutrition lesson
Have the students discuss what makes a food healthier?
Break the class into groups and have them review the recipes and find ways to make them healthier.
Have them make a list of ideas and why it would make the recipe healthier.
Guide the students to Chef Solus Cooking Academy Game to create their virtual pancakes.

Assessment:

Have the students make a collage of healthy food substitutes from each of the food groups. This is a good homework assignment or fun in-class nutrition education project.