Lesson

When and Where Kids Can Make Healthy Choices

Teach kids to think about making healthy choices and the importance of doing so.

Home Units Be Mindful About Healthy Choices When and Where Kids Can Make Healthy Choices

Objectives

  • Identify times and places to do a fit-check.

Lesson Plan

Being fit is not just about what you eat or drink or how you move. Being fit is about having enough energy and motivation to make healthy nutrition and physical activity choices. Four key factors of well-being help you to be fit:

  • Mood: Motivate Your Mood
  • Food: Think Your Food
  • Recharge: Recharge Your Energy
  • Move: Move Your Body

The lessons in this unit help students connect the four parts of fit with everyday choices by teaching them how to do a fit-check. A fit-check is a tool for the moments when a child needs to make a choice. Your students will learn to be mindful and stop to think about their energy and mood before making a choice—then decide the best choice, the fit choice!

Set The Stage

Have kids describe what a choice is. Then have kids turn to a partner and talk about a choice that made them feel good.

To use this with your students click here.

Captivate

Help Kids Think About Healthy Choices

Read the slideshow story aloud to see what choices Alex, Leila, and Miguel make throughout their day.

Educate

Kids Can Make Healthy Choices

Discuss with students that there are many times and places when and where they can do a fit-check to help themselves make healthy choices. Note that times and places can include mornings, afternoons, evenings, at bedtime, at home, and at school.

Check for understanding: What are the best times and places for you do to a fit-check?

Activate

How to Get Kids to Think About Healthy Choices

Students tell one another times and places when they can include a fit-check in their day. Then, expand by naming a trusted adult they can ask for help if assistance is needed.

Close the Lesson

Today we’ve learned about when to take time to do a fit-check and what we can do if assistance is needed. Next, we will learn about how to integrate fit-checks into our daily routine.

Grade: K-2

Time: 20 Minutes

What You'll Need

Resources
Materials
  • Slideshow
  • Poster Board or White Board
  • Markers

Health Education Standards

  • Standard 1: Core Concepts - Use self-control and impulse-control strategies to promote health. 
  • Standard 2: Analyze Influences 
  • Standard 4: Interpersonal Communication 
  • Standard 5: Decision-Making

 

Social and Emotional Learning Competencies

  • Self-Awareness
  • Self-Management
  • Responsible Decision-Making

Extend the Lesson

Related Content

Food, Mood, Move, Recharge

Be Mindful About Healthy Choices

Learn what a fit-check is and how this tool can help kids make healthy choices. Kids will also learn how to be mindful about their choices.

See Unit
Food, Mood, Move, Recharge

Be Mindful of Your Mood and Energy

Read the slides slowly and quickly depending upon whether they refer to low or high energy.

Start Slideshow
Food, Mood, Move, Recharge

Stop and Think

Think about how a fit-check leads to better decisions.

Start Slideshow
Mood, Move, Recharge, Food

Helping Kids Make Healthy Choices

Introduce healthy behaviors as choices we make. When kids have a framework for thinking about healthy choices, it empowers them.

See Unit
Food, Mood, Move, Recharge

Make Healthy Choices Throughout Your Day

Think about the daily choices the two characters make throughout their day.

Start Slideshow
Food, Mood, Move, Recharge

Do the fit Thing

This song has a bouncy beat and teaches kids about how to "do the fit thing" by making good choices, like drinking water and eating healthy foods.

Play Song