Korean Journal of Community Nutrition (대한지역사회영양학회지)

The Korean Society of Community Nutrition (대한지역사회영양학회)
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Systematization of food and nutrition education content based on national kindergarten curriculum: a qualitative formative study

유치원 교육과정 기반 영양·식생활 교육 내용 체계화: 질적 기초 연구

  • Jung-Hyun Kim (Department of Food & Nutrition, Pai Chai University) ;
  • Eugene Shim (Department of Food and Nutrition, Soongeui Women's University) ;
  • Eunyoung Baik (Major in Early Childhood Education, Graduate School of Education, Gongju National University of Education)
  • 김정현 (배재대학교 식품영양학과) ;
  • 심유진 (숭의여자대학교 식품영양과) ;
  • 백은영 (공주교육대학교 유아교육전공)
  • Received : 2023.11.28
  • Accepted : 2023.12.29
  • Published : 2023.12.31
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Abstract

Objectives: This study is intended to develop a curriculum for kindergarten food and nutrition education aimed at preschool children, reflecting government policy and meeting the demands of preschool settings. Methods: Existing educational materials were analyzed, and key elements of the 2019 Revised Nuri Curriculum ("Nuri Curriculum") and Guidelines for Nutrition and Food Education in Kindergartens, Elementary, Middle, and High Schools ("Guidelines") were examined as foundational information for developing the curriculum for food and nutrition education. Results: Basing ourselves on the five domains of the Nuri Curriculum, "Physical Activity and Health," "Communication," "Social Relationships," "Art Experience," and "Natural Science Inquiry," we integrated three areas from the Guidelines, namely "Dietary Habits and Health," "Dietary Habits and Safety," and "Dietary Habits and Culture," to structure the curriculum for kindergarten food and nutrition education. Three specific domains, "Nutrition and Health," "Food and Culture," and "Safe Dietary Practices," were tailored for preschool children, each comprising core concepts, content elements, and educational materials. In the "Nutrition and Health" domain, core concepts such as "nutrition" were addressed through content elements such as "balanced eating" and "vegetables and fruit," while "health" included elements such as "eating regularly" and "nutrients for disease prevention," each with two educational content components. The "Food and Culture" domain focused on "food" with content on "local foods (vegetable-garden experience)" and "food culture" with content on "our dining table (rice and side dishes)," "our agricultural products," "global cuisine (multiculture)," and "considerate dietary practices," each with four educational content components. The "Safe Dietary Practices" domain included core concepts such as "hygiene" with content on "hand-washing habits" and "food poisoning management," and "safety" with content on "food labeling." Conclusions: The systematized curriculum for kindergarten food and nutrition education aligns with the Nuri Curriculum and is interconnected with the Guidelines. This curriculum can be used as foundational material for developing educational resources tailored to the characteristics of preschoolers, contributing to effective implementation in early childhood education.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by a grant from Korea Educational Environments Protection Agency (20221002ADF-00).

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