MHSchool: McGraw-Hill Health 2005

Web Link Description
The Food Safety Web site is an informative, fact-filled site created by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. It contains age-appropriate material about many aspects of food safety. The information found at this site will help students understand how to prepare and store food to prevent food-borne illnesses.
Besides Food Safety Facts, the site also contains the Bad Bug Book, which discusses harmful bacteria, as well as Serve Up a Safe BBQ, Book, Kid's Quiz, and links to related sites.

Before Online Activity
Ask students to explain how they can tell if something is or is not good to eat. Students may describe moldy bread, overripe fruit, or food that does not smell good. Ask them what would happen if they ate spoiled food. Student responses might include upset stomachs, headaches, or nausea. Explain to students that food-borne illnesses, sometimes caused by organisms they cannot see or taste, are easily prevented by safe handling and storage of food. If you are using Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Health & Wellness, refer students to the pages that cover food safety habits.

Explain to students that they will create a one-page, four-section brochure to share what they have learned at the Web site. Tell students that a brochure is a small booklet that provides information about a specific topic. Bring in sample brochures as models, if possible. Have drawing paper, markers or crayons, old magazines, scissors, and paste available for students to use in completing the activity.

Online Activity
Food Safety
URL: http://www.agr.state.nc.us/cyber/kidswrld/foodsafe/
Distribute student activity sheets and direct students to Food Safety Facts, where they will learn proper techniques for preparing and storing food. If necessary, help students read and understand the nine tips for food safety. Tell them they will be using information from this site to design a food safety brochure.

Before students begin their brochures, ask them to think about their audience. Who would read a brochure like this? Where might food safety brochures be found? Urge students to make their brochures colorful and attractive. Distribute art supplies.

Student Activity Sheet
Print the online student activity sheet to create a blackline master. For best results, be sure that your browser's font size has been set to "12" and that your browser has been set to print in "portrait mode."

Sharing the Activity
Collect student brochures and display them on a bulletin board. You might wish to post them in the school cafeteria or lunchroom, if possible.

Assessment Idea
Ask students to think of one question about food safety and write it on a piece of paper. A sample question might be Where should frozen meats be thawed? Collect students' questions and read several of them aloud. Invite volunteers to answer the questions.

Curriculum Connection
Science
At the Food Safety Web site, students can click Bad Bug Book to learn the scientific names of organisms, as well as which organisms are associated with specific foods. For example, salmonella is associated with raw poultry products, eggs, pork, and processed meats. The site also provides clear information about the onset, symptoms, and duration of illnesses associated with each organism.

Home School Connections
Print the online family activity sheet to create a blackline master. For best results, be sure that your browser's font size has been set to "12" and that your browser has been set to print in "portrait mode."