Subject: Environmental Studies (EVS) / Science
Class: IV (Age 9–10 years)
Topic/Chapter: Food and Nutrition (Food for Health / Food We Eat)
Duration: 5 periods × 40 minutes each (can be adjusted to 3–4 periods)
Aligned with: NCERT/CBSE EVS Class 4 (Looking Around & Our Wondrous World – Chapter 5 Food for Health) and common Indian school syllabi
Learning Objectives
By the end of the unit, students will be able to:
Knowledge
- Name the major nutrients and their functions.
- Identify the three main food groups (energy-giving, body-building, protective).
- Explain what a balanced diet is with Indian examples.
Understanding
- Understand why we need food for growth, energy, and staying healthy.
- Recognise the difference between healthy and junk food.
- Appreciate Indian food diversity and the importance of not wasting food.
Application
- Classify common Indian foods into correct nutrient groups.
- Plan a balanced Indian meal/thali.
- Maintain a simple food diary.
Skills & Values
- Observation, classification, critical thinking, teamwork.
- Healthy eating habits, respect for food (Anna Brahma), avoiding wastage, mindfulness while eating.
Teaching Aids
- PPT with pictures of Indian foods (roti, dal, rice, rice, idli, sambhar, fruits, etc.)
- Real food items or pictures: chapatti, banana, dal, milk, spinach, mango, ghee, samosa (for junk food example)
- Charts: Indian Food Plate / Food Pyramid / Shad Rasa (6 tastes) chart
- Worksheets: Balanced plate drawing, food diary, nutrient matching
- Videos (2–3 min): “Journey of food in digestive system” or “Why do we eat food?” (Hindi/English)
- Collage materials: old magazines, glue, chart paper
Previous Knowledge
Students know different foods they eat daily, favourite dishes, some junk foods (chips, burgers, cold drinks), and that food gives energy.
Period-wise Plan
Period 1: Why Do We Need Food? + Nutrients Introduction
Introduction (10 min)
- Start with a poem (in English or Hindi): “Roti ne kaha dal se, tu meri jaan hai, Sabzi ne kaha dono se, main tumhari pehchaan hoon, Dahi ne kaha teeno se, main tumhe taakat doonga, Phal ne kaha sabse, main bimari bhagaunga!”
- Ask: – What did you eat for breakfast today? – What happens if you skip meals? (Children feel weak/tired) – What happens to a car without petrol? → Same with our body without food!
Main Teaching (25 min)
- Food gives us:
- Energy to play and study (like petrol)
- Strength to grow taller and stronger
- Protection from diseases
-
Introduce 3 main food groups (Indian context):
Food Group Function Examples Energy-giving Gives energy Rice, roti, potato, banana, ghee, oil, sugar Body-building Helps growth & repair Dal, rajma, milk, curd, paneer, eggs, chicken, fish Protective Protects from illness Fruits (mango, guava, orange), vegetables (palak, gajar, bhindi), salad - Quick activity: Children stand and shout the group when teacher shows picture/food item.
Closure (5 min)
Recapitulation questions + Home assignment: Write 5 foods you ate yesterday and try to put them in the 3 groups.
Period 2: Nutrients in Detail + Balanced Diet
Introduction (10 min)
- Show a colourful Indian thali picture. Ask: Is this meal complete? Why?
Main Teaching (25 min)
- Nutrients in short:
- Carbohydrates & Fats → Energy
- Proteins → Growth
- Vitamins & Minerals → Fight diseases, strong bones/teeth
- Roughage (fibre) → Helps potty come easily (palak, salad, fruits with skin)
- Water → Most important! Helps digestion, keeps skin good, removes waste
- Balanced diet = Eating all groups in right amount every day.
- Show Indian Food Plate (ICMR-NIN): Half plate vegetables + fruits, quarter cereals, quarter protein, little dairy & fats.
Activity (group work)
- Children draw their own “My Healthy Thali” (roti, dal, sabzi, curd, salad, one fruit). Colour it beautifully.
Closure
Display best thalis on class board.
Period 3: Junk Food vs Healthy Food + 6 Tastes (Shad Rasa)
Introduction
Show packet of chips and an apple. Ask which one they want → then explain why apple is better.
Main Teaching
- Junk food: High in salt, sugar, oil → Causes obesity, tooth decay, weakness later.
- Healthy food: Gives real power.
- Introduce Shad Rasa (6 tastes) with examples: Sweet (gur), Sour (imli), Salty (namak), Spicy (mirch), Bitter (karela), Astringent (anar). Good meal has many tastes → feels satisfying.
Activity
- Taste activity (safe items): Small pieces of jaggery (sweet), lemon (sour), salt (salty), bitter gourd juice drop or neem leaf picture discussion. Children write which taste they like most/least.
Period 4: Cooking Methods + Food Wastage + Hygiene
Main Teaching
- Healthy cooking methods: Steaming (idli), boiling (dal, rice), roasting (papad), grilling (paneer tikka).
- Less healthy: Deep frying (pakoras, samosas – eat sometimes only).
- Never waste food → Many children in India don’t get enough. Say “Anna Brahma” before eating.
- Hygiene: Wash hands, wash fruits/vegetables, cover food.
Activity
- Role play: One child acts as mom cooking healthy food, another ordering pizza every day → show difference in energy.
Period 5: Assessment + Project
Activities
- Food Collage (group of 4): Cut pictures from old magazines/newspapers and paste under headings – Energy-giving, Body-building, Protective foods.
- Food Diary (take-home 2–3 days): Draw or write breakfast, lunch, dinner → put ✔ for healthy items, ❌ for junk → bring and discuss.
Assessment (20 min)
Worksheet (sample questions):
- Match the nutrient to its work: Protein → Growth
- Circle healthy foods: apple, chips, roti, cold drink, dal
- Draw a balanced thali.
- Write 3 ways to save food at home.
Quiz (oral/quick written)
- Name one food for strong bones → Milk/curd
- Which nutrient is in spinach? → Iron, Vitamin A
- What happens if we eat only Maggi every day? → We become weak/sick
Homework/Project
- 3-day Food Diary → Parents help write meals → Child marks healthy/unhealthy → Suggest one improvement (e.g., “I will eat one fruit daily”).
Extended Activity (optional)
Invite school cook or parent to talk about mid-day meal or how they make food nutritious.