MyPyramid+Scavenger+Hunt

This activity takes 2 - 3 43 minute periods to complete and is based upon the USDA's MyPyramid website.

For day 1 and day 2 the students write down everything they eat and drink (including approximate amounts) in the food diary. During class on days 1 and 2 the students work on the scavenger hunt.

They answer questions about the pyramid and learn how to navigate a website using the tool bars, navigation aids, and search box. The activity starts by giving hints as to where to find the information and then after a few questions stops and the students are expected to search for themselves in a like manner. For lower level learners, the hints and prompts are continued throughout the activity.

At the end of the scavenger hunt, the students use the menu planner to enter their two day diet and see how well they eat according to MyPyramid. The students should register so they can have the project saved to return to it at a later date if they need to. The students like to work on this during study hall or at home and registering allows them to do so. It doesn't require an email address. If there is time, I then have the students create a perfect day 3 meal plan that gets 100% of each food group without exceeding the recommended daily servings, calories, and fat requirements. They can only include food that would actually eat. They are generally surprised by how much they can eat if they avoid fatty, sugary foods.

To keep the students on track I tell the students they will be taking a test on their scavenger hunt and it will be open note. Then following the activity I give the assessment.

It is in the form of a PPT or can be done through the CPS or sentio systems. I also have a Word version if students are absent the day of the assessment and need to make it up.

It is simply a multiple choice assessment based on the questions in the scavenger hunt. This allows me to determine how well they did during the activity and base follow-up discussions accordingly. It also gives some of the less serious learners a reason for staying on task and doing well.

Karen Farmelo Otto-Eldred Jr. Sr. High School kfarmelo@ottoeldred.org