What's it like inside?

9
AIM

Encouraging children to explore texture, taste and the feel of fruits and vegetables.

4
BENEFIT

When children try new whole foods in a relaxed setting with other children, parents, or caregivers, they’re more likely to accept and enjoy a variety of foods which helps build confidence, curiosity and lifelong healthy habits.

WHAT YOU NEED:
  • Fruit
  • Vegetables
  • Child safe knives
  • Tongs
  • Wooden skewers
  • Magnifying glasses
WHAT TO DO:
  • All children and adults wash their hands and dry them.
  • Place fruit and or edible vegetables on a table (make sure beforehand that no children have allergies to any fruit or vegetable; do not include if so).
  • Use magnifying glasses to explore looking at the food.
  • Adults assist children to look at what is on the outside and feel the fruit and vegetables and describe out loud the texture e.g. hard, soft, and the colour for children.
  • When children have finished exploring the fruit and vegetables, adults cut them open. Point out:
    • an apple- the skin colour, texture e.g. (smooth) and the seeds
    • a pea pod- the skin colour, texture e.g. (smooth) and that the peas are round seeds
    • a banana- the skin colour, texture e.g. (smooth or rough in patches) and that the black dots inside are seeds
    • a strawberry- the skin colour, texture e.g. (bumpy) and look for the tiny seeds

Once the fruit has been explored put it aside as it will be unfit for eating, so assist children to put the fruit in a compostable (green) bag for disposal.

Use this part of the video as a SPARK for the activity.

ANOTHER TIME OR AFTER THIS:
  • Ask children to assist in preparing ‘fruit time’.
  • Children and adults rewash and dry hands. Adults can cut the washed fruit and vegetables.
  • Children can place the fruit onto plates with tongs (if any child has allergies, then that fruit or vegetable cannot be used).
  • Adults can discuss and assist children to understand each fruit or vegetable as above e.g. the name of the fruit or vegetable, how it tastes, how it feels and how it smells.
Fun fact green

FUN FACT

Fruit grows to protect the seeds inside. A fruit is the part of a flowering plant you can eat and contains seeds. Vegetables are the other parts of a plant such as the leaves, stems and roots.

Playgroup WA has been supporting, servicing and establishing playgroups throughout Western Australia since 1972.

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Playgroup WA is committed to the safety, respect, and value of all children by implementing child-safe practices in line with the National Principles for Child Safety and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

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