Food for Thought: School Academic Skills (eLesson)

Digital Download Grades 3-8

With all of the demands on the classroom schedule these days, it is difficult to find time to include guidance lessons into the curriculum. While all would agree that teaching character- and life-skills is important, presenting those skills in a brief, yet memorable way can be a challenge. Food for Thought was created to answer that challenge.

This lesson is designed to facilitate a short, but thought-provoking discussion, then to progress into an activity involving social and cooperative learning. A tasty snack, related to the lesson, is served to reinforce the main concepts addressed. The Discussion Points/Questions section of the lesson is meant to be used as a guide to facilitate meaningful conversation and sharing, but does not have to be strictly followed.

In this lesson, students will:

• Learn to reject negative stereotypes of “smart people.”
• Become appreciative of the gifts of a mind and an education.
• Connect education to positive outcomes for themselves and others.
• Engage in personal reflection, whole group discussion, and positive peer interaction in small groups.

Materials Required:

•     Smarties™ candies or
•     Healthier alternative: Peeled hard-boiled eggs and salt and pepper packets
•     Napkins, plates, or coffee filters to set food on
•     Optional: Materials to make posters: paper plates or poster board, glue, markers, scissors, etc.