Food Explorers is a 16 lesson food literacy program teachers can use in their kindergarten and grade 1 classrooms that supports students in the development of healthy eating habits throughout their lives. Developed by Registered Dietitians, Food Explorers provides teachers with fun, easy to follow lesson plans that meet BC curriculum standards. Teaching the program in your classroom also provides you with age-appropriate resources to teach food and nutrition in your classroom. Filled with opportunities for experiential learning and tasting opportunities, students have fun exploring a variety of foods both in the classroom, and at home
The big idea? Students come to see themselves as people who enjoy trying new foods and new food experiences. Food Explorers exposes students to a variety of foods using concrete, hands-on experiences focusing on the mysteries of tastes, textures, and colours of food.
The Food Explorers program comes with a teacher guide filled with activities and links to home. A class set of food collector cards and stickers also comes with the program.
Teachers have two packages to select from when teaching Food Explorers, each providing a guided exploration of 8 different foods. You can teach the program year after year and from one of the two packages every time you teach. New food collector cards and stickers can be ordered each year, free of charge.
Food Explorers is designed to fulfil outcomes in the Physical and Health Education curriculum. In addition, many activities integrate into cross-curricular subject matters such as Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Mathematics, Arts Education and Applied Design Skills and Technologies.
After completing the program it is expected that students will:
To teach the program and receive the materials, teacher participation in a workshop delivered by a BC Dairy registered dietitian is required. Workshops last 30-60 minutes. All workshops are free of charge.
Participation in the workshop will provide teachers with:
Once you have completed one of these workshop options, you can order your Food Explorers materials through our BC Dairy Education Hub, free of charge!
“Your Food Explorers workshop was one of the most valuable Professional Development sessions that I have ever attended and my kids love the program in the classroom each year.”
Teachers—Create or access your BC Dairy Education Hub account to re-order program materials, access additional resources and apply for Mini Food Grants.
If you’re teaching Food Explorers in your classroom, you are eligible for an annual Mini Food Grant. Funded by BC dairy farmers, Mini Food Grants are intended to support teachers and help them purchase food for enhancing nutrition education efforts in the classroom. Learn more about how to apply here!
Use one of our lesson plans to start teaching food and nutrition in your classroom, today. No workshop required.
