Cooperative Learning Lesson Plan

Cooperative Learning Lesson Plan
Grade Level: 5th
QCC: M.24 Identities needed information and selects steps necessary to solve multi-step word problems.
QCC: M.25 Solves one-, two, and three-step word problems related to all appropriate fifth grade objectives including those presented orally.
Time estimation: 40 minutes.
Materials: Food date fact sheets, calendars, and red and green cups.
Present Goals and Set:
This week we have been learning about how to keep food fresh and safe to eat. We have also been learning about what can happen when food is not handled properly. Today in math we are going to talk about those dates you see on food labels. We are going to discuss the different type of dates and what they mean. Then you are going to work with a partner to answer food safety questions using your new knowledge about those dates. As you can see your desks have already been arranged in groups of two so that we will not have to spend valuable class time moving desks.
Present Information: Give each student a copy of the following sheet and quickly discuss the information found on the sheet.
Facts about the dates found on food labels and packages.
~ Many foods, especially meats, have a “sell by” date on the label. This is the last day that the product can be sold in the grocery store. It allows you time to buy the product and store it at home until you are ready to cook it.
=~ Lots of products also have a “do not use after” date on them. The products should not be eaten after this date. This is also called the “expiration” date.
=~ The “best if used by” date is a freshness date. Even though the food may still be safe to eat after this date it will not be as tasty.
~ If you just see a date on a product, it usually refers to the date the food was made, processed, or packaged.
~ Unopened containers of food can be kept longer than opened containers. For example, canned vegetables can be stored for one year, but once they are opened they need to be refrigerated. Even then they can only be stored for 3 days. (Remove contents from can.)
· The date on egg cartons refers to the date the eggs were packed. They can be sold for up to 30 days after the packaging date. They can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 or 4 weeks after the packaging date before their quality starts to decline.
· Hard-boiled eggs can be safely stored in the refrigerator for 1 week.
· Raw meats can be stored in the refrigerator 1 or 2 days before they are to be used.
· Opened packages of lunchmeats can be stored for 3-5 days in the refrigerator.
· Opened packages of hotdogs can be refrigerated for 1 week.
· Leftover cooked meats can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
· Egg salads or deviled eggs can be safely stored in the refrigerator for 1 day.
· Yogurt can be kept in the refrigerator for 7-10 days.
· Milk puddings can be safely stored for 5-6 days in the refrigerator.
· Opened containers of milk can be stored in the refrigerator for 1 week after they have been opened. * Be sure to check the date on the carton.
You can safely store the milk for up to 1 week after the “sell by” date.
· Opened packages of cheese can be safely stored for 1 month.
· Cheese spreads can be stored for 1 month.
· Jelly can be safely used for 1 year if kept refrigerated after opening.
· Catsup can be stored for 1 month. (For safety, refrigerate.)
· Pies can be safely refrigerated for 2-3 days.
· Peanut butter can be stored for 2-3 months after opening.

Organize students into learning teams.
Your desks have already been placed in groups of twos. You will work together with your partner as a team during our activity. I know you will all work very well together. The next part of our lesson is going to be challenging, but fun. It will be a think-pair-share activity.
Think-pair-share activity.
Today you learned a lot about the dates found on foods. You also learned a lot about how long certain foods can be safely kept before they become unsafe to eat. Now you are going to put that new knowledge to work. You are going to work with a partner and a calendar to answer food safety questions. After I ask a question, you are going to use a calendar to decide if a food is safe to eat. After you decide on the answer, you are going to share the answer with your partner and come to an agreement on the answer. If you decide that the food is safe to eat, you are going to place a green cup on your desk. If you decide that the food is not good to eat, you are going to place the red cup on your desk. Then we will discuss why you chose a particular answer. Remember that it is not enough to just say yes or no, I want to know why you decided yes or no. Are there any questions before we begin?
Use the attached list of questions for the activity.
Assist teamwork: Give the students clues as needed.
Test over materials: Students tell why their answers are correct.
Provide recognition: Be sure to praise the
students for their correct answers and hard work. Some of the questions are very tricky!
= Many foods, especially meats, have a “sell by” date on the label. This is the last day that the product can be sold in the grocery store. It allows you time to buy the product and store it at home until you are ready to cook it.
= Lots of products also have a “do not use after” date on them. The products should not be eaten after this date. This is also called the “expiration” date.
=> The “best if used by” date is a freshness date. Even though the food may still be safe to eat after this date it will not be as tasty.
=> If you just see a date on a product, it usually refers to the date the food was made, processed, or packaged.
+ Unopened containers of food can be kept longer than opened containers. For example, canned vegetables can be stored for one year, but once they are opened they need to be refrigerated. Even then they can only be stored for 3 days. (Remove contents from can.)
The date on egg cartons refers to the date the eggs were packed. They can be sold for up to 30 days after the packaging date. They can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 or 4 weeks after the packaging date before their quality starts to decline.
· Hard-boiled eggs can be safely stored in the refrigerator for 1 week.
· Raw meats can be stored in the refrigerator 1 or 2 days before they are to be used.
· Opened packages of lunchmeats can be stored for 3-5 days in the refrigerator.
· Opened packages of hotdogs can be refrigerated for 1 week.
· Leftover cooked meats can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
· Egg salads or deviled eggs can be safely stored in the refrigerator for 1 day.
· Yogurt can be kept in the refrigerator for 7-10 days.
· Milk puddings can be safely stored for 5-6 days in the refrigerator.
· Opened containers of milk can be stored in the refrigerator for 1 week after they have been opened. * Be sure to check the date on the carton.
You can safely store the milk for up to 1 week after the “sell by” date.
· Opened packages of cheese can be safely stored for 1 month.
· Cheese spreads can be stored for 1 month.
· Jelly can be safely used for 1 year if kept refrigerated after opening.
· Catsup can be stored for 1 month. (For safety, refrigerate.)
· Pies can be safely refrigerated for 2-3 days.
· Peanut butter can be stored for 2-3 months after opening.