Use the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2011 "Choose My Plate" guidelines as the basis for a game. Have students match a food item with its corresponding position on the ideal plate. Each correct match earns the player one serving of that food group. The first student to complete a proper plate wins the round. The foods can be arranged around a wheel for a spinning game or on flash cards. Explain how good food choices lead to better health.
Take the student's pulse. Record the number on an index card as "Normal Pulse Rate." Have him walk a marked distance at a brisk pace and record the "Working Pulse Rate." Give the student a backpack with a measured weight appropriate for the child's size, such as five pounds of flour or sugar. Have the student walk the marked distance carrying the backpack. Record the "Extra Weight Pulse Rate." Let the student compare how extra weight makes his heart work harder to cover the same distance. Point out that extra weight in the backpack acts on the heart like extra weight gained by a person.
Prepare fill-in-the-blank pages with sentences about exercise, using the Centers for Disease Control's physical activity guidelines as a basis. Be ready to lead students to correct answers with discussion of the sentences as needed. Address the body's need for aerobic, muscle-strengthening and bone-strengthening exercises and examples of each type. Table displays may include images of children exercising as inspiration.
Bring math, meal planning and health together with a display aimed at calculating the amount of calories in a given amount of food. Use samples of food labels and nutritional information from common food products to have the students calculate the calories in a full meal, based on the recommended serving sizes. Remind students of the dangers of consuming more calories than they use each day.
Take a "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" approach with pictures or descriptions of food servings. Have students select the picture that represents the right serving size. For example, a picture of a basket of potatoes qualifies as too much, while one fried potato strip is too little, and a small scoop of mashed potatoes fits the serving requirement.
Remind students about the importance of good hand-washing technique. Use pictures and posters to discuss how often, when, where, how and how long students should wash and why proper hygiene can prevent disease and improve wellness.