Materials Needed

• Pictures or plastic toy examples of "Go Foods" (e.g., banana, apple slices, milk, bread/oatmeal).
• Pictures or plastic toy examples of "Slow Foods" (e.g., one piece of candy, chips, cake—used only for contrast).
• Two small plates or bowls labeled clearly (one with a green 'GO' sign/drawing of a running person, one with a red 'SLOW' sign/drawing of a sleeping person).
• Upbeat music for movement activity.
• Comfortable space for jumping and running.

Introduction: Finding Our Fuel (Tell them what you'll teach)

Hook (2 minutes)

Educator Talk: "Put on your running shoes! Let's pretend to run really, really fast! Zoom! Zoom! Now stop. (Pause) How do we get the energy to run so fast, jump so high, and learn new things? It’s like magic! Our bodies need special fuel, just like a car needs gas."

Learning Objectives (Success Criteria)

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Name two foods that give your body energy to run and play.
• Show me what your body looks like when it has lots of energy.
• Sort foods into 'GO' foods (Energy!) and 'SLOW' foods (Treats!).

The Energy Engine (Teach it)

I Do: Modeling the Fuel (5 minutes)

Concept: Food = Fuel

1. Introduce 'GO' Foods: Hold up a banana (or picture). "Look at this banana. This is a Super Power Food! When we eat this, it tells our body, 'Ready, Set, GO!' It gives us the power to build, play, and think."
2. Kinesthetic Demonstration: "Let's put the 'Go Fuel' in our tummies!" (Pretend to eat the banana). "Now we have energy! Show me your energy jump!" (Educator models jumping up and down several times.)
3. Introduce 'SLOW' Foods (Contrast): Hold up a piece of candy. "This candy tastes yummy, but it doesn't give us big energy for long. It’s a 'Slow Food' or a treat. We eat treats sometimes, but not when we need to run fast!"
4. Transition: "Now we are going to look at some food pictures together and decide if they make us GO or if they make us feel a little SLOW."

We Do: Guided Energy Match (6 minutes)

Activity: Energy Thumb Check

• Educator holds up various food cards (start with 2 'GO' and 1 'SLOW').
• Educator Talk & Questioning: "Look at the apple! Does an apple help us run fast (thumbs up) or does it make us tired (thumbs down)?" (Guide the child to give a thumbs up and make a 'vroom' sound.)
• "How about a drink of milk? Does milk help our bones grow strong and give us power? Yes! That’s a GO food!" (Repeat with bread, and then briefly with a small treat item.)
• Formative Assessment: Observe if the child correctly uses the thumbs up/down motion for 3 out of 4 foods.
• Differentiation (Scaffolding): If the child struggles, sort the foods into colors instead (Green foods = GO, Brown/White foods = SLOW).

You Do: Independent Energy Sort (5 minutes)

Activity: GO Plate vs. SLOW Plate

1. Set out the two plates/bowls (one labeled GO, one labeled SLOW).
2. Give the child a mixed pile of 6-8 toy/picture foods.
3. Instructions: "It is your turn to be the Energy Expert! Put all the GO foods on the green GO plate, and the SLOW foods on the red SLOW plate."
4. Educator Role: The educator observes, prompting only if necessary ("Where does the bread go? Does that help you build a big tower?").
5. Real-World Connection: "When you go to the kitchen later, you can choose a GO food when you want to play outside!"

Closure and Reflection (Tell them what you taught)

Recap and Movement Break (4 minutes)

Review & Fun:

• Ask the child to pick one food from the 'GO' plate. "You picked a banana! Tell me, what does this food help your body do?" (Run, jump, play, learn).
• Play upbeat music and lead a final "Energy Dance." Shout out actions: "We ate an apple, now let's hop!" "We drank milk, now let's stretch tall!"

Summative Assessment and Takeaway

Check for Understanding:

• Assessment Method: Observe the completed Energy Sort. Did the child correctly place at least 80% of the GO foods onto the GO plate?
• Reinforcement: Provide specific, positive feedback. "Wow, you remembered that apples and milk are GO foods! You are ready to have so much energy today!"
• Extension (Choice & Autonomy): Ask the child to draw a picture of themselves running really fast, and draw their favorite GO food next to them.