CABOT, Vt. — Just in the nick o'time for St. Paddy's Day, Cabot Creamery Cooperative, in partnership with Green Education Foundation (GEF), has developed The Wonder Wheel! Food for Healthy Kids and a Healthy World, a three-part lesson plan for middle school students that focuses on health, community and sustainability. Through the program, students explore what makes food healthy for them, their community and the environment.
"Although we are best known as the 'Makers of the World's Best Cheddar,' health, community and sustainability are also primary focuses for Cabot," says Alexandra Groezinger, Food & Sustainability Education Programs Manager for Cabot, "and are the driving forces behind most of our outreach. Over the years, Cabot has spearheaded and partnered with other concerned groups like GEF on efforts aimed to raise awareness and educate our consumers on each of these important issues. With the launch of 'The Wonder Wheel' program, we are excited to again help make a difference."
The three-part program is designed to engage students on a number of different levels. They will participate in activities that include making cottage cheese, performing skits about cooperatives and participating in a food package redesign competition. At the end of the lessons, students will demonstrate how to make healthy and sustainable choices for themselves, their communities and their environment by making a personal "Wonder Wheel" of foods. By the culmination of the program, students will be able to evaluate personal food choices by reading nutrition labels, explain the benefits of food cooperatives and have knowledge they can apply at home about managing waste via the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle model.
Teachers can get their classrooms involved by visiting: www.cabotcheese.coop/wonderwheel. There, they'll find a program overview, lesson plans, handouts and other information.
ABOUT CABOT CREAMERY COOPERATIVE
Cabot Creamery Cooperative has been in continuous operation in Vermont since 1919, and we make a full line of cheeses, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, and butter. Best known as makers of "The World's Best Cheddar," Cabot is owned by 1200 dairy farm families located throughout New England and upstate New York. For additional information on Cabot Creamery, visit www.cabotcheese.coop.
ABOUT GREEN EDUCATION FOUNDATION (GEF)
Green Education Foundation (GEF) is a global non-profit organization committed to creating a sustainable future through education. GEF provides curriculum and resources to K-12 students and teachers worldwide with the goal of challenging youth to think holistically and critically about global environmental concerns and solutions. For additional information, visit www.greeneducationfoundation.org.
April is National Volunteer Month – To learn how to better support the non-profit of your choice, go to: www.rewardvolunteers.coop, win prizes and cash for you and your non-profit.
Source: Cabot Creamery Cooperative
