My Pyramid WebQuest

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has provided us with a new food guide pyramid. It has a new look, new colors and six triangles to identify the food groups needed for a healthy lifestyle. The figure climbing stairs represents the need for daily exercise. The orange triangle is larger because we need more grains in our diet. Next is blue and includes milk and dairy products. Green is for vegetables. Red is for fruits. Purple is for meat, beans, fish and nuts. The tiny yellow triangle is for the oils we need.

Kids Health is a good site to help explain how much of each area school children aged 4-13 years need to eat to stay healthy. Since measurements are now identified by 1 tablespoon, 1/2 cup and 1 cup measurements for fruits and vegetables, students will need practice using these measurements.

Practice using 1 tablespoon, 1 cup, and 1/2 cup measurements. Use a variety of small and large items. The teacher should lead a discussion of comparisons of 1 tablespoon as compared to 1/2 and one cup of small items like beans or popcorn kernels. Then have students measure larger items such as popped popcorn kernels, blueberries, etc. and compare Make sure you discuss how the larger items might need to be cut into smaller pieces to fit in the 1 tablespoon, 1/2 cup and 1 cup measuring utensils. Only the teacher may demonstrate cutting items such as apples, or potatoes to fit in the utensils.

Competency	7 pts.	5 pts.	2 pts.	0 pts.
Fruits	Identifies and colors all the fruits on the page.	Identifies and colors most of the fruits on the page.	Identifies and colors few of the fruits on the page.	No attempt.
Vegetables	Identifies and colors all the Vegetables on the page.	Identifies and colors most of the vegetables on the page.	Identifies and colors few of the vegetables on the page.	No attempt.
My Favorites	Lists 7 or more foods from the fruit and vegetable areas.	Lists 4-6 foods from the fruit and vegetable areas.	Lists 1-3 foods from the fruit and vegetable areas.	No attempt to list favorite foods.
Bar Graph	Included all 20 bars in the graph and identified and colored all bars properly.	Included most of the 20 bars in the graph and identified and colored most bars properly.	Included few of the 20 bars in the graph and identified and colored few bars properly.	No attempt.

Language Arts (Evaluating Data)

Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g. print and non print texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suite their purpose and audience.

Language Arts (Applying Language Skills)

Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information.

Technology

Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences.

Students use technology to locate, evaluate and collect information from a variety of sources.

Students use technology tools to process data and report results.

Students evaluate and select new information resources and technological innovations based on the appropriateness for specific tasks.

Students use technology resources for solving problems and making informed decisions.

Students employ technology in the development of strategies for solving problems in the real world.

This page was developed by Barbara Irwin, reviewed by Lyndon and Barbara Irwin and is maintained by Missouri Farm Bureau.

Please address questions to Diane Olson at Missouri Farm Bureau or Dr. Lyndon Irwin at Missouri State University.