Rationale
My unit will expose students to a variety of nonfiction and fiction pieces of literature tied together with hands on activities in order to broaden their understanding of how food will help them stay healthy so that they will not become a part of the diabetes statistic. My unit will be taught using a timeline in three sections: (1) Navajos and Farming (2) Fruits, Vegetables and Our Body (3) Navajos, Diabetes and Exercising. In order for my students to grasp the essential understanding, it is necessary to first build background knowledge of where their food comes from. “Knowing where food grows and who grows it is key to increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among young children. The growing experience is a vital component of connecting children to good food and creating memories that last. The connection to growing engages children on an intuitive level.”3 Keep in mind that Kindergarten students are just beginning their academic careers and have had little to no prior content-specific teachings. They will need to learn that food does not magically appear; a process which includes farming enables food to end up on a plate or on the shelves of our local grocery store. Once the food is on a plate it can be eaten and afterwards the food helps some part of the body stay healthy.
Navajos and Farming Rationale
Up to this point in their lives, students have been in their homes where food has been readily available. All they have to do is open the refrigerator or the cupboards and get what they want to eat without thinking of the process that it has gone through in order to get into their homes. In order for my students to appreciate the value of food and its existence, they must realize that a lot of hard work has been put into the process of planting and caring for the food as it was growing. Realizing that a lot of hard work has been put into what they eat might make my students think twice about their portion size, which would lessen the amount of food they might waste on a daily basis.
Fruits, Vegetables and Our Body Rationale
Just like any other human being, my scholars consume food on a daily basis. At such a young age, I am confident that their knowledge is limited when it comes to understanding that the foods they eat help or harm their body. After a weeklong study, my students will be able to explain why one food is better than another and they will also be able to choose the healthier version. For example, when presented with a roasted ear of corn and a bag of the corn chips, the student explanation might be, an ear of corn is much healthier to eat than a bag of corn chips because the corn chips have a lot of fat and salt in it whereas, the ear of corn is natural. It is very important for my young scholars to be exposed to the different types of food, specifically fruits and vegetables for this unit.
Navajos, Diabetes and Exercise Rationale
Diabetes has been on the rise among the Navajo people, particularly with adults. In recent years, children have been diagnosed with childhood diabetes. With that in mind, it is important to persuade my students to start eating healthy and exercising. With the background knowledge that accompanies this unit, they will build an understanding that in order to stay healthy they have to eat the right combination of foods and exercise on a daily basis. This will then set my young scholars on a lifelong journey of practicing good health and exercise.
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