## Lesson Plan: Foods We Eat
### Grade Level: Toddlers (Ages 2-3)
### Subject: Nature Study
### Topic: Foods We Eat
### Duration: 30-45 minutes
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### Objectives:
- Introduce toddlers to various foods we eat.
- Encourage sensory exploration through touch, sight, and smell.
- Build basic vocabulary related to foods.
- Develop an understanding of the source of common foods.
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### Materials Needed:
- Picture books about food.
- Real items of food (fruits, vegetables, grains, etc.).
- Small baskets or trays.
- Child-safe mirrors.
- Crayons and paper.
- Small bowls for sensory bins.
- Miniature toy farm animals and farm produce.
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### Introduction (5-10 minutes):
1. **Circle Time Discussion:**
- Gather the children in a circle.
- Show pictures of different foods using a picture book (e.g., "Eating the Alphabet" by Lois Ehlert).
- Discuss the colors, shapes, and sizes of the foods seen in the pictures.
### Activity 1: Sensory Exploration (10-15 minutes):
1. **Touch and Feel:**
- Display a variety of real food items like apples, carrots, corn, rice, and beans.
- Allow each child to touch and feel the different foods while naming each item.
- Prompt discussions with questions like, "Is it smooth or rough? Cold or warm? Soft or hard?"
2. **Smell Test:**
- Use small bowls to hold smells from scents like cut lemon, herbs like basil, or a piece of chocolate.
- Allow children to sniff and guess the food item.
### Activity 2: Understanding Sources (10 minutes):
1. **Show and Tell:**
- Show pictures of farms, orchards, and gardens.
- Display miniature toy farm animals and produce.
- Explain, in simple terms, where foods come from (e.g., "Apples grow on trees, milk comes from cows").
### Activity 3: Art Activity (10-15 minutes):
1. **Food Illustration:**
- Provide crayons and paper.
- Encourage the toddlers to draw or color simple pictures of foods discussed.
- Offer praise and hang their artwork on a bulletin board or wall.
### Conclusion (5 minutes):
1. **Review:**
- Recap the foods explored during the lesson.
- Emphasize any new vocabulary learned.
2. **Interactive Play:**
- Allow some free play in a mini farm setup with toy animals and produce to reinforce the understanding of food sources.
### Additional Activities (if time permits or for future lessons):
- **Food Taste Test:** Optional tasting session with small, safe bite-size pieces.
- **Cooking Activity:** Simple, no-cook recipes like making fruit salad.
- **Story Time:** Read a food-related story.
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### Assessment:
- Observe participation and engagement during activities.
- Note the ability to identify and name different foods.
- Monitor sensory exploration and responses.
- Check for understanding through simple Q&A.
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### Extensions at Home:
- Send home a simple handout with pictures of foods explored.
- Encourage parents to involve children in grocery shopping, naming, and exploring foods.
- Suggest food-related songs like "The Farmer in the Dell" or "Old MacDonald Had a Farm."
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### Teacher's Reflection:
- After the lesson, reflect on what worked well and areas for improvement.
- Take note of children’s favorites and any difficulties they might have faced.
- Adjust future lessons accordingly.
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This lesson plan is designed to be adaptable, engaging, and suitable for toddlers, stimulating their sensory, language, and cognitive development while fostering a curiosity about natural food sources.