P5 Students Collaborate with Secondary Students in Healthy Diet and Food Test Activity
P5 students had a meaningful collaborative activity with some Secondary students (Secondary 2 and 3). They carried out a food test experiment and a healthy diet survey. This activity aimed to confirm and deepen students’ understanding of a balanced diet, prove the presence of nutrients (carbohydrates, protein, and sugar) in their foods, as well as raise their awareness about maintaining a healthy diet.
At the beginning, the students learned about balanced diets and nutritious foods. Afterwards, they were asked to bring various types of food they wished to test during the experiment. They also composed several questions to gather more data from Secondary students about their habits in consuming a healthy diet.
On the experiment day, Mr. Rafi, Mr. Reza, and some Secondary 3 escort students assisted the P5 students in conducting the experiment. They used reagents to test whether the food samples brought from home contained carbohydrates, protein, and sugar. The students enthusiastically conducted the experiment by following instructions from the teachers and student escorts. They were amazed during the observation process as they witnessed color changes in the food samples after being treated with specific reagents. Based on these observations, they then made conclusions.
On the same day, they also had the opportunity to interview some Secondary 2 students. They asked the questions they had prepared beforehand. After the interviews, they created a tally and bar chart based on the interview results. Finally, they summed up the findings and presented a thank-you card containing the conclusions of the eating habits and suggestions to maintain healthy practices.
This activity became one of the fun and impactful learning experiences that helped deepen students’ understanding and build awareness about the importance of a healthy diet. They also gained authentic experiences in identifying the nutrients in their food through a series of experiments. Moreover, P5 students were able to develop scientific and logical thinking skills as well as self-confidence through the set of activities. In addition, they were also encouraged to understand that having data and making observations are essential before drawing conclusions. ***
