Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Nutrition Pathfinders

This curriculum provides a range of lessons that focus on fundamental concepts about healthy eating and physical activity.

Description

This curriculum provides a range of lessons that focus on fundamental concepts about healthy eating and physical activity. The lessons foster the development of personal responsibility for making healthy diet and lifestyle choices that promote classroom achievement and lifelong good health. Lessons support standards in physical education, English language arts, and mathematics.

What’s Inside

A teacher resource guide and student worksheets as well as a companion website are included. Also provided is a family newsletter in Spanish and English.

Activity Highlight

In Lesson 2 for grade five, students explain the importance of eating balanced meals and drinking adequate fluids every day. They analyze sample meals based on their prior knowledge of food groups and nutrients. Students then plan balanced meals and practice applying the knowledge to other lessons in the series.

  • Key Content Areas: After School, Cafeteria Connections, Integrated subjects, MyPlate, Parent/Family Involvement, and Physical Activity

  • Originator of Resources: Dairy Council of California

  • User of Resource: Teachers and parents

  • Audience: Grades 4–5

  • Languages: English and Spanish

  • Number of lessons: 7 lessons for grade 4 and 7 lessons for grade 5

  • Amount of time per lesson: 40 minutes

  • Format: Hard copy

Resource

To access the curriculum, visit the Dairy Council of California Nutrition Pathfinders 4th Grade Curriculum web page External link opens in new window or tab. or Nutrition Pathfinders 5th Grade Curriculum web page External link opens in new window or tab..

Contacts

For questions regarding this curriculum, visit the Dairy Council of California Contact Us web page External link opens in new window or tab..

Questions:   Nutrition Services Division | 800-952-5609
Last Reviewed: Wednesday, April 09, 2025
Related Content
Recently Posted in Nutrition
  • Webinar: Tuesday at 2 School Nutrition Town Hall (added 05-Jun-2026)
    School Nutrition Town Hall webinar for School Nutrition Program Operators and Food Service Directors.
  • 2026 SUN Bucks UBA Reporting (added 05-Jun-2026)
    Information on upcoming 2026 SUN Bucks Universal Benefits Application Reporting.
  • Public Comment–Expanding Fluid Milk Options (added 01-Jun-2026)
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture invites public comment on the final rule codifying expanded fluid milk options Child Nutrition Program providers, following enactment of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act.
  • Annual FDP Contract Packet Update Due July 31 (added 29-May-2026)
    The California Department of Education (CDE) reminds all participating agencies to submit their 2026–27 Food Distribution Program (FDP) contract in CNIPS by July 31, 2026.
  • Free Virtual Training Opportunities (added 29-May-2026)
    CalFresh Healthy Living Statewide Training is offering partners five new free training opportunities. Trainings include a combination of self-paced work and live online meetings, which include trauma-informed approaches, when possible.