Educational Excellence Since 1912
Hamden Hall Country Day School
Educating students in PreSchool through Grade 12

Nutrition Celebration with Kindergarten and Chef Kevin

As part of their monthly thematic classroom unit, kindergarten students took an exciting educational journey through the world of nutrition and health. Each week featured different topics including the food pyramid, understanding the difference between the five food groups, and learning about healthy habits. To culminate the unit, students made smoothies with Cafeteria Manager, Chef Kevin Stawitz.

The 17 students along with Kindergarten teachers Jenna Gabriel and Monica Lyons 1994 wore colorfully designed chef hats as they sat together in Lender Refectory. Before the activity, Chef Kevin asked students what they’d been learning in class to which one student eagerly replied “healthy foods” as another student answered “the food groups.” He then asked if they were able to name foods in each category, and, of course, the obligatory favorite food query. After the discussion, Chef Kevin read Even Aliens Need Snacks by author Matthew McElligott.

“We wanted the lesson to come to life in an exciting, interactive way as it can be challenging to teach students about nutrition,” said Mrs. Gabriel. “They were excited to be their own chef for the afternoon and work with Kevin.”

In transitioning to the hands-on activity, Chef Kevin explained the smoothie of choice would be strawberry and banana with yogurt and milk blended together. The students happily waited to assist in the smoothie-making process. With plastic gloves on, students one-by-one added the strawberries, bananas, and yogurt to the blender. Chef Kevin finished by adding the milk and turning on the blender. The smoothie was doled out into small plastic cups for the students to enjoy.

Miss Lyons noted that the students get excited when they can take charge in a classroom activity and said that allowing them to have fun while learning is also important. Nutrition and literacy have been staples in the Kindergarten curriculum and Miss Lyons added that there will be more activities to come with Chef Kevin.
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Hamden Hall Country Day School is a nurturing and inclusive community with a dynamic learning environment that promotes academic excellence by understanding each child and fostering their individual growth.