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Health, Fitness and Nutrition Activities for the Third Grade

Teaching children about the importance of fitness and a balanced diet will help build good foundations for them to carry into adulthood. With childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes on the increase, it is becoming increasingly important to raise awareness of healthy living. As a teacher you can be a positive role model and encourage the children in your third grade class to eat well and exercise regularly.

  1. Sports Day

    • When combined with healthy eating, regular exercise is essential for good health and fitness. Work to the individual strengths of your class by organizing an inclusive sports day. Get every child involved and make it fun, with activities such as an egg and spoon race, a three-legged race and an obstacle course. Reward good sportsmanship to help build confidence and self esteem.

    Food Groups

    • To promote the importance of a balanced diet, teach your class about the main food groups. Split the children into small groups and supervise them while they make giant pie charts. They should divide the charts into sections denoting different foods and the amounts required for a varied diet. For example, fruit and vegetables should make up the biggest section, with sugary and fatty treats the smallest.

    Healthy Cooking

    • Healthy food need not be boring. Help the children in your class devise a healthy menu for a three-course dinner. Help them cook the meal and take samples home for their families. This could also be a good opportunity to teach the children about the benefits of locally-sourced organic food. Show the children that low-fat alternatives can be just as tasty. A sample menu could be vegetable soup, followed by broiled chicken and steamed vegetables, finishing with fruit salad.

    Extracurricular Activities

    • To emphasize the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, both at school and at home, help your third-graders organize after school activities. You could hold a sponsored walk on a Saturday afternoon, with the profits going to a local charity. Designate one day a week to be "Walk to School Day," with all your students walking to school with their parents.

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