Food is Elementary Lesson #6 - Whole Grains

Great Grains! Within Lesson #6 of the Food is Elementary curriculum, we discovered the world of whole grains. Students were taught that a whole grain includes 3 parts. They were told that in order to obtain healthy vitamins, such as B and E, within grain products, the entire grain needs to be used. Students were shown that when the grain is first separated from its stalk, it looks like a tiny seed and is called a "groat." This groat can then be flattened into what is called a "flake." The groat can also be ground and turned into flour. Students were shown the difference between whole wheat flour and processed white flour. Students learned that whole wheat flour uses the entire grain or the entire groat and that processed flour is made after vital parts of the grain/groat are taken away. Students were then able to determine that whole wheat flour contained important vitamins and nutrients, while the processed white flour did not. Brown is better!

Students were then shown a variety of whole grains from around the world, such as; corn, rice, quinoa, and sorghum. After discussing the definition of a whole grain and learning about whole grains from various continents, students were given the opportunity to use these grains to create a beautiful grain collage. Way to go Grains!