The School Enrichment Nutrition Kit (SEK) Program is a unique approach to reaching Nebraska's kindergarten through fifth grade youth, using the teaching support of local teachers. The lesson plans meet the health curriculum objectives required for the nutrition unit of each age group. The kits include everything you need to teach including handouts, visual aides, games and family newsletters.
In recent years, participating classrooms have spent an average of 5-6 hours using the kits. Kit delivery can look different for each classroom depending on the desired teaching partnership between Extension professionals and the classroom teachers. This program meets federal health standards and will align with the Nebraska state health standards after they are released in the Fall of 2021.
The kits help school districts meet the 10 School Components of the Whole School, Whole Community and Whole Child (WSCC) Model for Kindergarten through 5th grade.
Nebraska Extension nutrition kits are available throughout the state. Extension staff may deliver a handwashing or MyPlate lesson as a kickoff to using a kit. A physical activity lesson or food experience may be taught as a final lesson. Availability may be impacted by COVID-19 directive health measures. For more information on the School Enrichment Nutrition Kits contact Natalie Sehi at nsehi2@unl.edu. FREE to Nebraska schools with 50% or more reduced or free lunch participation due to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Education (SNAP-Ed) grant funding.
Kit Descriptions by Grade
Each nutrition kit has five lessons with a sixth optional lesson filled with hands-on activities and an experiment to help teach nutrition and physical activity in the classroom.
Kindergarten:
Food Fun!
Kindergarteners discover:
- Why food is important for good health
- How the 5 basic food groups help keep their body healthy
- The 5 senses
1st Grade:
Healthy Me!
First graders discover:
- Why their bodies need food
- How their bodies use this food
- How to plan a balanced meal
- How to choose healthy snacks
2nd Grade:
MyPlate Party
Second graders discover:
- Why balanced meals are important
- The digestive process
- How to make healthful food choices
3rd Grade:
Let's Eat Smart!
Third graders discover:
- How their body gets important nutrients
- How to read food labels
- Safe storage of foods
4th Grade:
Rate that Plate!
Fourth graders discover:
- Why their body needs water, vitamins and minerals
- Healthy ways to eat
- How to eat healthy at fast-food restaurants
- Why they need to eat a healthy breakfast
5th Grade:
Food Science Investigator
Fifth graders investigate:
- How to use MyPlate to plan a balanced diet
- Why and how to find and maintain a healthful weight
- Food labels
- Food safety
Handwashing Videos
The videos below were developed for classroom teachers to teach students how to correctly wash their hands. These videos can be shared in your classroom and within your school district to promote proper handwashing.
