This collection of activities allows students to learn about California-grown fruits and vegetables through observations, investigations, taste testing, games, and movement.
Students will learn about where these foods come from, how these fruits and vegetables grow, what they taste like, recipes for each, and why they are good for human health.
Teaching Tips
Positives
These activities allow students to build skills in critical thinking, listening, memory, and concentration.
The bright, engaging PDF is teacher-friendly and also fun for student use.
Additional Prerequisites
The table of contents on page 5 allows teachers the ability to quickly locate materials within this resource.
These enrichment activities would be appropriate for in-school, after-school, or summer programs.
Be prepared to obtain samples of each produce variety that are ripe and in-season so that students may taste test them.
Differentiation
Print out the five posters that accompany this resource in order to supplement the enrichment activities using the recommendations in the packet.
Use the recommended reading lists for each fruit or vegetable as read-alouds, shared reading, or in guided reading groups when appropriate.
While the activities are signified as K-2 or 3-5, consider using the K-2 activities as whole group activities in all elementary classrooms with a faster pace, more independence, and more advanced vocabulary for upper grades.
Consider using the grades 3-5 activities in science or literacy centers.
In K-2 classrooms, find ways to incorporate the upper grade activities as enrichment activities, possibly during small group instruction.
For parts of the lessons that ask students to verbally name things, such as "name the different parts of a radish plant (leaf, root, stem)", consider having students create pictures or diagrams to supplement learning.
Health or Physical Education classes could use the dances or movement activities while teaching this content and new vocabulary.
Allow students to create their own posters, demonstrating what they know about common produce, or have them use these coloring sheets as inspiration.
After participating in the taste tests provided within these activities, use this other resource as a guide for students to create advertisements for their fruit or vegetable and encourage others to try new fruits and vegetables.
Scientist Notes
This resource is a lesson on five common types of produce grown in California: oranges, strawberries, cherry tomatoes, grapes, and radishes, The lesson offers a brief overview of the benefits of the produce and some statistics about how much of each is grown in California. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ETS1: Engineering Design
K-2-ETS1-2 Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem.
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
2-LS2-1 Plan and conduct an investigation to determine if plants need sunlight and water to grow.
LS4: Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
2-LS4-1 Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Speaking & Listening (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.2 Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media by asking and answering questions about key details and requesting clarification if something is not understood.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.2 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.2 Paraphrase portions of a text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.2 Summarize a written text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
Common Core Math Standards (CCSS.MATH)
Measurement & Data (K-5)
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.MD.C.4 Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories; ask and answer questions about the total number of data points, how many in each category, and how many more or less are in one category than in another.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.D.10 Draw a picture graph and a bar graph (with single-unit scale) to represent a data set with up to four categories. Solve simple put-together, take-apart, and compare problems using information presented in a bar graph.
