"Spot the Block is an interactive website created by Cartoon Network to encourage teens to seek Nutrition Facts from nutrition labels, understand the information it provides, and use it for making healthful choices related to their own dietary management." (USDA, 2008)
It can be used to teach the topic "Shop Smart" from Food Interactions, where one of the learning outcomes is to ensure that students will be able to interpret and apply the information found on nutrition labels.
The content from the textbook will come ALIVE with this interesting website, CERTAINLY!!
a) VIDEOS
The catchy tunes of the jingle and the funny moves by the animated character will definitely leave an impression on the students. The students may sing along and memorize the lyrics which contains the information they need to know about reading and interpreting nutrition labels.
b) MUSIC
"Music, makes the people, come together!!" Yeah, the songs and lyrics from the videos can be downloaded.
Groups of students can conduct a "meaning-making" session based on the lyrics.
c) DOWNLOADS
If any teacher wants to conduct a lesson on nutrition label using this website in a computer lab, she can surprise the students by downloading the different wallpapers onto every computer. When the students switch on their computers, they might all get a pleasant surprise! It can be a wacky way to introduce the topic to the students in the lab and it may create constructive discussions among students. "Look at your screens and you'll see what we'll be learning today!"
"Fast Fact" (at the bottom of the wallpaper) brings out the gist of the lesson
d) BLOCK BASICS
This part essentially teaches the students how to apply the information found on nutrition labels to making wise food choices.
2) Nutrition Explorations Nutrition Explorations is not so much of an "information website" but rather a host for many activities and games well-related to Food & Nutrition. Teachers can use the activities alongside their lessons or after they have taught a particular topic (an avenue for students to apply their knowledge to the respective activities & games)
a) NUTRITION INFORMATION
As you can see, there are not many topics on nutrition information. The one highlighted - Tour the Food Groups, can be used to teach the topic on "Planning Healthy Meals" where the Healthy Diet Pyramid is used as a Nutritional Tool to plan meals.
Upon clicking each food group, a panel of information with respect to the food group will appear
Interesting "Did-you-know" info and nutrients provided by the different food groups are all clearly listed in the information panels. Teachers can use it as a brief recap on the HDP when it was first taught in Home Econs.
The only difference between the HDP of Singapore and the US is the extra food group - Milk Group. Nonetheless, it can be used to teach the nutritional value of milk and the importance of incorporating milk into our daily diets.
b) Activities
Activities boxed in red are relatively relevant to the teaching of F & N Activity 1: Fueled for Fun
Teachers can use this games to assess student's knowledge in identifying nutrient-rich food.
The game character will walk along a park where nutrient-rich and calorie-dense food are placed all around. The aim of this game is to pick out nutrient-rich food for the character so that she can obtain enough energy to run fast for a competition.
This is what happens with wrong selection of food
Fun Factor: 4/5
Activity 2: Food Expedition with Arianna & Marcus
Teachers can use this activity in relation to the teaching of coursework part 1. Students can better understand how foods are combined from different food groups to make a nutritious dish.
PLUS point: This activity merges F & N and Geography (Players have to look for the various ingredients that make up the dish. The ingredients are found in different parts of the world. When players" travel" to different parts of the world to look for the ingredients, they will be briefly introduced to different countries and their culture)
Fun Factor: 5/5
c) Fun Links (MORE Fun & Games!!)
There are 2 of the games in here which i particularly like:
Nutrition Cafe
MyPyramid Blast Off
Fun Links 1: Nutrition Cafe
Nutrition Sleuth - A game similar to hang-man. Different scenarios of people with poor diet are given and players have to guess which nutrient is missing from the diet. This game can be used in conjunction with "Food & Nutrients"chapter. Case-study approach allows students to apply knowledge on different nutrients to the various situations.
Grab a Grape - Food & Nutrition Knowledge is categorized into 7 main categories. Teachers can choose the different categories to assess the knowledge of students. This game can be used for revision!
Have-a-Bite Cafe - Teachers can incorporate this game into teaching the topic on "Planning Healthy Meals" (Students will learn how to make wise food choices for different meals catering to people from different age groups. They will have to bear in mind the important nutrients for that particular age group that they are creating a meal for) or coursework part 1 (Coursework part 1 usually requires students to plan a meal based on a given scenario. Students can try their hands on this game to make smart food choices for the scenario that they have been given)
Fun Links 2: MyPyramid Blast Off
This game helps students keep track of how their choices fit into the Healthy Diet Pyramid. Game can be used for the topic on "Planning Healthy Meals". Students will have to consider incorporating foods from different food groups into a meal and making sure that the daily calorie intake does not exceed the recommended value.
