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    Beginner Lessons

    The Beginner Lessons form the foundation with a sound overview of the core concepts of food production.

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    What is a Food Desert?

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    Not all water is created equal especially when we're talking about the health and development of plants and people.

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Bath Time!

Bath Time!

Why We Wash Fruits and Vegetables
Lesson: 9.1.1
Level:
Beginner
Station: Teaching Kitchen
Format: Essential Skill
Rating:
Lesson 9.1.1 Bath Time

Lesson Overview

Even the most well maintained organic garden has invisible elements that can be bad for your health. In this lessons, students discover the importance of washing fruits and vegetables before preparing the meal.

Goals

  • Describe why it’s important to wash fresh produce
  • Properly clean a variety of fruits and vegetables using a few different methods

Outcomes

Students will wash an assortment of fresh vegetables in order to prep them for a group snack.

Teaching Primer

Why we clean produceWhy wouldn’t you wash fruits and vegetables that you purchase at the store or farmers’ market or even the harvest from your own garden?

If you search the World Wide Web you will find arguments for not washing pre-washed produce like lettuce or using a vinegar wash for everything grown in the ground. How do you know what’s best for you and your family? Well, that starts with understanding exactly what you are at risk of facing. Bacteria, pesticide residues, and mold are all on the list. Of course, there is also a concern for the process. It doesn’t matter what solution you use if the process is flawed. That’s where most issues start. Tainted tools and utensils render all other efforts mute.

Teach the Teacher

  • Why you should wash fruits and vegetables

Tools & Materials

  • Fresh harvest from the Lab
  • Potable water
  • Paper towels
  • Brush
  • Salad spinner

Vocabulary

  • Pesticide residue
  • Contaminants
  • Potable water

Method

Introduction (10 minutes)

Begin the lesson by asking the question “Should we wash fruits and vegetables before we eat them?” Then describe the reasons to do so and review each of the methods for cleaning various produce.

Activity (20 minutes)

Following a harvest of fresh produce in the Lab, have the Students clean the harvest. If possible, have them wash a single variety in multiple ways and compare the outcome.

Discussion (10 minutes)

Do you think there is a greater chance of contaminants on store bought produce? Why? Is there still a need to wash produce we grow in the Lab? Why? Did you feel a difference before and after cleaning the produce?

Assessment (5 minutes)

Use the following questions to assess the Students before and after the lesson. Tally the responses of the group in the Assessment Tracking Log for comparison:

  • By a show of hands, how many of you wash produce at home before cooking or eating it?
  • Now that you know why it is important to wash produce before use, how many of you will encourage your families to wash produce at home?

Related Lessons

Give the Intermediate or Advanced lessons a try now that you’ve completed the Beginner Lesson!

This lesson, and all other lessons on this website, are intended for use by teachers in the classroom. These lessons are protected by US and International copyright laws. Reproduction or distribution of lesson content, supporting materials, or digital creative is prohibited with written permission from Modern Steader LLC.

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