Florida Bell Peppers

Florida Bell Peppers

TASTE

READ GROW

LEARN

Math

Social Studies

Science

Language Arts

Vocabulary: rounding, inferences Produce: Bell Peppers

Standard: MAFS.3.NBT.1.2 MAFS.4.MD.1.2, MAFS.4.NF.3.7 MAFS.5.NBT.1.4, MAFS.5.NBT.2.7

Materials: worksheet, pencils

Teacher will: Today, most green bell peppers sold in the United States are grown in Florida. The chart and information provided by the USDA shows the production of peppers in the world. Read the various charts and discuss how bell pepper production is growing. Have the students infer why there is a rise in pepper production throughout the world and especially in the United States. Then hand out the bell pepper worksheet and review with students on how to round numbers.

Students will: Students will discuss why they believe bell pepper production is increasing. Then read the facts about bell peppers and answer the questions on the math worksheet using this data.

Closing: Students will understand how much money peppers bring into the countries that produce them. They will also notice that the production of peppers is on the rise.

Vocabulary: voyage, import Produce: Bell Peppers

Standard: SS.3.G1.6, SS.3.G.1.3 SS.4.G.1.4, SS.5.G.4.2

Materials: map, worksheet

Teacher will: Peppers, both sweet and hot, were first grown in Central and South America over 2,000 years ago. Columbus brought them to Europe after his first voyage to the New World in a dried fruit form. Portuguese traders then carried them on the ships to India and southeast Asia.

Students will: Locate and color on a map Peru, South America, Central America and Spain. Students will draw the route Christopher Columbus took on his voyage from Central America to Spain. Label the bodies of water he crossed. Students will find the county on the Florida map where they live. Then list which pepper-producing counties are closet to the county you live in.

Closing: Students should understand that a lot of our foods were brought to the United States by earlier explorers.

Vocabulary: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Fiber Produce: Bell Peppers

Standard: LAFS.3.SL.2.6 LAFS.4.SL.1.3 LAFS.5.SL.1.1, HE.5.P.8.1

Materials: red, yellow, and green bell peppers, worksheets

Teacher will: Bring three bell peppers; one red, one green, and one yellow. Then ask the class if they have tasted them be-

fore and what they know about bell peppers. The teacher will share the information about fiber, Vitamin A and

Vitamin C. After showing the nutrition label worksheet, ask students questions such as, “How much more Vita-

min C is there in green bell peppers over red bell peppers?” and “Using the information from the nutrition label,

which color of pepper has nine times more Vitamin A than a green pepper?”

Students will: Read information about the different types of peppers and answer class questions. Then they will discuss in small groups which type of pepper they believe has the best nutritional value. In groups, they will create Venn Diagrams on all of the types of peppers to help understand all the benefits that each type of pepper provides. They will prepare a speech for the class sharing their opinion and they will listen to the other groups’ presentations. Closing: Peppers are very healthy for all students to eat. Students should understand through the speeches that eating peppers is a good choice as a part of their five to six fruits and vegetables daily.

Vocabulary: Seeds, Exocarp, Pericarp, locule, Stem Produce: Bell Peppers

Standard: SC.3.L.14.1, SC.3.L17.2 SC.4.L.16.1, SC.4.L.17.3 SC.5.L.14, HE.5.P.8.1

Materials: From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons, worksheet, paint,

paper plates, knife, peppers

Teacher will: Read the book From Seed to Plant. Then discuss that peppers are actually fruits because they are produced from a flowering plant and contain seeds – most people think of them as vegetables. Explain to the students the different parts of a flower and show them how a pollinated flower can become a pepper. The pepper variety and the stage of ripeness will determine flavor and color. For instance, a red bell pepper is a mature green bell pepper. The flavor becomes sweeter and milder with age. Cut open a pepper crosswise near the stem and discuss the different parts of a pepper.

Students will: Draw and label the parts of a pepper. Write about the color, shape and taste of the bell pepper.

Closing: Pour green, red, orange and yellow paint onto a paper plate and then cut two bell peppers in half. Press the pepper into the paint. Print on paper and make a collage. Have students share their pepper art!

More free resources online from

Florida Farm to School!

www.FreshFromFlorida.com/farmtoschool

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.