fitCLUB

Stoplight

Kids learn how to use a green, yellow, and red stoplight as a tool to help them classify different foods and beverages according to their nutritional value.

Kids listening to an adult giving them exercise tips
Group of kids writing ideas on paper
Kids running and playing outside
Kids doing exercises in gym
Group of kids playing a game on a grassy field
Group of kids doing mindful breathing while sitting with legs crossed

Activity Purpose

Kids play a game where they practice using a stoplight to classify different foods and beverages according to their nutritional value.

Objectives

  • Identify "food" as fuel for your body and brain.
  • Use a stoplight as a tool to make nutritional food and beverage choices: green-light (eat more), yellow-light (eat some), and red-light (eat less).

Preparation

  • Talk Time: Kids sit and stretch or stand and march in place. Be sure they are a safe distance (arm’s length) apart.
  • Activity: Designate a starting line at one end of the activity space. On the opposite side of the start line, tape to the floor a green, yellow, and red piece of paper for the green-light (eat more), yellow-light (eat some), and red-light (eat less) food choices. When reading the card information to the kids, the color of the food word's text indicates whether the food is a green-light, yellow-light, or red-light food choice.
  • Wrap Up: Kids partner with someone sitting near them for discussion.

Talk Time

Introduction

Q: Did you know that a bunch of bananas is called a hand? 

Q: What can you tell me about making nutritious food choices?
A: Stop and think before you make food or beverage choices. Think of your foods like a stoplight:

  • Green-light foods are “Eat More” foods: great fuel for your body.
  • Yellow-light foods are “Eat Some” foods: a little/not often foods.
  • Red-light foods are “Eat Less” foods: stop and think before you eat.
  • And don't forget to make healthy beverage choices! Choose water or milk.

This activity will help you learn more about green-light, yellow-light, and red-light foods.

Do The Activity

Activity Instructions
Setup of activity area for fitClub Stoplight game
  1. Divide the kids into small groups (3-4 kids per group); each group forms a line behind the starting line. 
  2. Leader picks a Food Activity Card and calls out the name of the food on the card. 
  3. First kid in line for each team runs to the line that they think the food on the card belongs to–red-light, yellow-light, or green-light.
  4. After each team has a player standing on a line, read the information on the card aloud to help kids understand why the food is classified as green-light, yellow-light, or red-light.
  5. Each team gets a point if their team member says the correct answer. 
  6. Kids run back to their team line. 
  7. Repeat the activity to see if each team can improve their score from the first round.

Wrap Up

Reflections

Turn and talk with a neighbor. One is a talker and the other a listener. When I say go, the talker names as many green-light foods as they can in 30 seconds. The listener counts. 

Next, switch roles and repeat.

How many green-light food choices did each partner name in 30 seconds? How many did they name together?

Challenge

Instead of grabbing that soda or sports drink, jazz up a glass of ice water with pieces of fruit. Or mix it up and add a vegetable—like a cucumber!

Time: 10 Minutes

What You'll Need

Resources

Materials
  • Cones or Place Markers
  • Colored Paper
  • Tape
  • Timer

Helpful Tips
  • If using a smaller space, choose different motor skills to do across the activity space such as bear crawl, crab walk, and inch worm. 


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