Mind Body and Us
Welcome back to Term Three! We hope you had a fabulous break and enjoyed your time with family and friends. Mind, Body and Us this term looks a little bit different as the students will be exploring a new unit ‘Food’. We are excited to see how the students transfer this learning into their everyday lives.
Prep – Year 2
In Term Three, the Prep, Year One and Year Two students will be exploring ‘Food’ and how it impacts the Mind, Body and Us. They will learn about five food groups, Grains, Vegetables and Legumes, Fruits, Meat and Poultry and Dairy. Students will inquire into the benefits of each food group and how their nutrients affect their brains and bodies. They will learn about moderation and how to balance unhealthy food and healthy food on a day-to-day basis. To complement this unit the students will be exploring the connection between physical activity and a balanced lifestyle with the continuation of the Play is the Way program. This will help engage the students in physical activities that support their emotional and social wellbeing as well as their physical health.
Curriculum Links:
- Grouping foods into categories such as food groups and ‘always’ and ‘sometimes’ foods (FN)
- Exploring how eating healthy foods can influence health and wellbeing (FN)
- Recognise situations and opportunities to promote their own health, safety and wellbeing
Key Vocabulary:
Food Groups, Dairy, Poultry, Meat, Vegetables, Fruit, Grains, Balance, Nutrition, Vitamins, Healthy, Unhealthy.
Years 3 – 6
This term in Mind, Body and Us the students from Years Three to Six will be inquiring into ‘Food’. Within this topic the students will be analysing the food that they eat, comparing what they eat to the Australian Healthy eating recommendations as well as looking into the different nutrients, their food sources and how they impact the body. To compliment this unit the students will be exploring the connection between being physically active and a balanced lifestyle through continuing to utilize the Play is the Way program to help engage the students in physical activities that support their emotional and social wellbeing as well as their physical health.
Curriculum Links:
- Examining their own eating patterns by researching The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating and identifying healthier food choices (FN)
- Identify and practise strategies to promote health, safety and wellbeing (VCHPEP091)
- Comparing product labels on food items or nutritional information in recipes and suggesting ways to improve the nutritional value of meals (FN)
- Plan and practise strategies to promote health, safety and wellbeing (VCHPEP108)
Key Vocabulary:
Nutrition, healthy/unhealthy foods, balanced lifestyle, nutritional value, Vitamins, Minerals, Carbohydrates, Protein, Fats, Water.
How can you support your child’s Mind, Body and Us learning at home?
In order to support the Mind, Body and Us program, families can:
- Have conversations about healthy food choices
- Include children in food shopping/meal planning to make healthy choices
- Make connections to the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating
- Display the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating poster in your home. See below.
- Switch off devices during mealtimes to engage in conversations.
- Investigate as a family ‘healthy food swaps’ you may include at home. See https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/healthy-food-swaps.
- Embedding wellbeing strategies such as mindful colouring, Yoga and gratitude journalling, at home, will enable students to transfer their understanding from school into healthy habits for life.
