Middle School Lessons

For Educators - Interactive Lessons for Grades 5 - 8 on

Food, Farming, and Nutrition

Oryana Natural Foods Market offers 12 interactive lessons about food, farming and nutrition designed to help children gain a better understanding of the value of healthy foods in their lives. Lessons are suitable for children in grades 5-8 and are 50 minutes in length. Lessons generally include a presentation, interactive discussion and group activities as well as a food sampling component. Some classes may include a hands-on cooking/food prep demonstration.

Instructor Requirements: Classroom suitable for food prep/demo and audio/visual equipment

Classes are FREE but we ask that class size be limited to 25.

For scheduling options or more information please call Sandi McArthur or Dave Gibbs at 231/947-0191 or email sandi@oryana.coop or dave@oryana.coop.

What’s a Whole Food?

Students will discover the difference between whole foods and those that are fractionated and/or processed and gain an awareness of the nutritional value of a whole foods diet versus one filled with processed foods. Students will discuss how certain foods can affect their energy levels, their moods, and their ability to concentrate. 

Portion Distortion

Students will examine the increase of food portions over the last 50 years and how that has led to many health issues in our society including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.  Students will discover what a healthy portion consists of and what constitutes a balanced meal, as well as an awareness of the “Super Size Me” hype so prevalent in our culture.

Genetically Modified Food

What is it? Should we be eating it? Students will gain an understanding of Genetically Modified Foods (GMOs), what they are, how they differ from non-GMO food, what foods contain GMOs, as well as learn about some of the health and environmental issues surrounding GMOs.

Trains, Boats and Planes - The Global Food Movement

Students will gain an awareness of where food comes from, the miles it travels from source to plate, and the environmental and nutritional impact of global versus local foods. Students will examine the role large industrial farms play in the loss of family farms, outbreaks of food contamination, a reduction in the variety of foods available today and the tremendous growth of processed and packaged foods. They will look at two foods, in particular corn and soy, and how they dominate the marketplace. Students will be able to give 10 examples in support of locally-grown food.

Smart Snacking

Students will understand the difference between a snack and a meal, what constitutes a healthy versus an unhealthy snack choice, when snacking is appropriate, and how healthy snacking may be beneficial for them. The students will make and sample a variety of healthy snacks.

Sugar…The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Students will have an understanding of the kinds of sweeteners on the market today and how they are grown or produced, such as cane sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and artificial sweeteners. The class will look at the startling increase of sugar usage in the last 100 years and the health implications of a high sugar diet as well as discover the hidden sugars in many foods. Students will also take a hard look at the soft drink industry and its effect on children.

Don’t be Fooled - Food and Advertising

Students will examine some of the techniques that advertisers use to promote their products, especially those geared towards children, and how these ads influence what products they buy. They will examine brands and see how some branded items are synonymous with certain foods and how much money is spent on advertising these products. Students will create their own mini commercials.

Ingredient and Nutritional Labels…What Do They Tell Us?

Students will be able to identify synthetic and artificial ingredients as well as potentially harmful or unhealthy ingredients in a number of sample foods including hidden sugars. Students will be able to identify nutritional information such as calories, protein or sugar content in a food product and how to calculate better food choices for themselves based on that information

Packing or Picking a Healthy Lunch

Students will discuss what constitutes a balanced meal and what the components of a good, healthy lunch are. They will discuss how different foods affect their ability to study, concentrate, play sports etc., and the importance of choosing healthy foods for themselves. Students will create a healthy lunch for themselves given a number of options.

Nine a Day-The Rainbow Way…Making Vegetables and Fruits a Part of All Your Meals

Students will gain an understanding of why fruits and vegetables play such an important part of our daily diet. They will learn how many servings are needed daily and the importance of variety. Students will
understand what constitutes a serving of fruit or vegetables and see how easy it can be to achieve the goal of nine a day. Students will make and sample several recipes.

Whole Grains - Powerful Nutrition

Students will understand the difference
between whole and refined grains and why whole grains are more nutritious. They will learn about quinoa, wheat, rice, millet, buckwheat and barley and the value of whole grains in a well balanced diet. Students will make and sample a whole grain dish.

A Day in the Life of Two Cows…Which Burger Do You Want?

Students will learn how agriculture in the United States has changed over the last 100 years from a traditional agrarian society to one of industrial farms and the impact this has had on our food, health, and planet. Students will understand the difference between animals raised on family farms and those raised in factory farms from both a health and an animal rights viewpoint. Students will view the DVD “The Meatrix.”

Download a brochure HERE.