Sweet Potato Hill

Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Preschool Fun With Fruits and Vegetables

Booklet 4
Welcome to...

Sweet Potato Hill at Tasty Acres Farm!

There is a delicious secret hiding at Sweet Potato Hill. The other plants show off their fruits and 

vegetables during the growing season. On the hill, the potatoes stay hidden in the ground until harvest 

time. The children will not be able to hide their delight in learning about this sweet vegetable; it grows 

in many varieties. Appealing hands-on activities encourage the children to discover how a sweet potato 

looks, feels, smells, and tastes. The children make a pretend sweet potato hill to learn how this vegetable is 

grown, harvested, and shipped to farmers’ markets and stores. Children have many opportunities to taste 

sweet potatoes plain and in salads, side dishes, and cookies. Families share in the sweet rewards through 

the activities and recipes of the Growing at Home materials.

What’s Inside

Sweet Potato Hill Lessons

Planning Chart for Sweet Potato Hill Activities.............................................................................................................................1

A: Sweet Potatoes are Appealing Hands-On Activities........................................................................................................... 2

1. “Eye” Wonder What This Is?.........................................................................................................................................................2

2. Sweet Potato...A Look Inside....................................................................................................................................................4

3. Mashed Sweet Potatoes................................................................................................................................................................6 

B: Sweet Potato...Where Do You Come From? Planting Activities.......................................................................................8

1. Sweet Potatoes Grow from Eyes and Slips........................................................................................................................8

2. Start a Sweet Potato Slip ...........................................................................................................................................................10

3. Make a Pretend Sweet Potato Hill........................................................................................................................................12

C: Sweet Potato Stories and Songs...............................................................................................................................................14

1. Cool Puppy Pup’s Sweet Potato Lunch Party Video..................................................................................................14

2. Reading Activity................................................................................................................................................................................16 

3. Old MacDonald Had a Farm, Sweet Potato Style.......................................................................................................18

D: Introducing MyPlate Nutrition Education Activities.......................................................................................................20

1. You Say Potato and I Say Potáto.............................................................................................................................................20

2. A Sweet Ending with Sweet Potato.....................................................................................................................................26

 a. Sweet Potato-Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Bars Recipe .........................................................................................28

Growing at Home Materials

Sweet Potato Hill Growing at Home #1

1. Letter to Home #1.......................................................................................................................................................................30

2. Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe.............................................................................................................................................31 

3. Sweet Potato Number Match Activity ...............................................................................................................................32

Sweet Potato Hill Growing at Home #2

1. Letter to Home #2.......................................................................................................................................................................33

2. Oven Baked Sweet Potato Planks (Wedges) Recipe.................................................................................................34

3. Sweet Potatoes Grow From Eyes Activity .......................................................................................................................35

Sweet Potato Hill Growing at Home #3

1. Letter to Home #3.......................................................................................................................................................................37

2. Sweet Potato-Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Bars Recipe ...............................................................................................38

3. Make a Sweet Potato Windsock Activity ..........................................................................................................................39
2

A Plan For Organizing Sweet Potato Hill Activities

The Sweet Potato Hill lesson plans are designed to be used in their 

entirety but if your center does not have the time, space, or resources 

to do all the activities, select the activities best suited to your center’s 

environment and available resources from Section A: hands-on activities, Section B: planting activities, Section C: sweet potato stories and 

songs, and Section D: nutrition education activities. Be sure that the 

activities you choose help the children meet the objectives listed at 

the beginning of each lesson plan section. 

Here is one way to arrange the activities in your Sweet Potato Hill. 

Most activities require only 10-15 minutes; pick a few for each day. In 

this example, all of the activities from the lesson plans are completed, 

but spaced out over a 5-day period. Additionally, two activities from 

the Garden Art and Crafts Section in Booklet 1 are added. These 

activities are fun and useful ways to help reinforce the objectives of 

each activity. On page 19, it gives tips for creating successful projects 

and ideas for harvesting fun month after month. The Garden Art and 

Crafts chart connects the art and crafts to the lesson activities.

Most activities require 

only 10-15 minutes; 

pick a few for each 

day. In this example, 

all of the activities 

from the lesson plans 

are completed, but 

spaced out over a 

5-day period.
Sweet Potato Hill 1

Planning Chart for Sweet Potato Hill Activities

Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Day Five

A1 

“Eye” Wonder 

What This Is? 

Hands-on Activity

A3

Mashed Sweet 

Potatoes 

Hands-on Activity

B2 

Start a Sweet 

Potato Slip

Planting Activity

C3

Old MacDonald 

Had a Farm Song, 

Sweet Potato Style

D1 

You Say Potato, 

I Say Potáto

Nutrition Education

Activity

A2

A Look Inside

Hands-on Activity

C1 

Cool Puppy Pup Video

B3

Make a Pretend 

Sweet Potato Hill 

Planting Activity

Garden Craft 

Make a Scarecrow D2

Sweet Endings 

With Sweet Potato 

Nutrition Education 

Activity

Garden Art

Stamped Paper B1 

Sweet Potatoes 

Start From Eyes 

and Slips 

Planting Activity

C3 

Old MacDonald 

Had a Farm Song, 

Sweet Potato Style

C2

Reading Activity

Send Home 

Growing at Home 

Materials #1

Send Home 

Growing at Home 

Materials #2

Send Home 

Growing at Home 

Materials #3

Revisit the Farm: Rainy Day Fun All Year Long 

When the weather changes your outdoor plans, the activities from Tasty Acres Farm provide a welcome 

opportunity to revisit and remember all the fun and flavor of Grow It, Try It, Like It! Sing the songs, watch 

the video segments, and use the Garden Art and Crafts Section in Booklet1for ideas. Make a rainy day 

one to reconnect with these fruits and vegetables. 

More Ways To Grow – The Sweet Potato Hill unit can be included in other areas of the curriculum. 

Complementary themes include:

Foods – Vegetable Shapes – Oblong Colors – Orange Seasons – Summer, Fall Body – Senses 

Opposites – Above & Below Plants – Vines, Eyes, Sprouts Alphabet – S and P words
2 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Growing at Home Introduction Letter and Hand Washing and Polite 

Tasting Guidelines: Send a copy of these resources home before 

starting the first unit from Grow It, Try It, Like It! If you have 

already sent these resources home, you may omit this step. 

(See Booklet 1, Tool Shed Resources, page 42-44.) 

Sweet Potato Growing at Home #1: Send a copy of this resource 

home with each child at the start of the Section A activities. 

A1: “Eye” Wonder What This Is 

Use the Mystery Box/Bag to create interest by having the 

children feel the outside of a sweet potato before revealing the 

“mystery” item to all. 

Objectives

The children will be able to: 

< Identify a sweet potato as a heavy, oblong-shaped, 

orange-brown vegetable; 

< Describe the outward appearance and smell of a 

sweet potato.

Before the Activity–Hand Washing and Polite Tasting

< Explain that we should always wash our hands before 

preparing and eating food. Have the children wash their 

hands (see Booklet 1, Tool Shed Resources, page 43, 

for directions).

< If this is the first activity involving food tasting, talk with the 

children about polite food tasting habits. (see Booklet 1,Tool 

Shed Resources, page 44, for details).

A. Sweet Potatoes Are Appealing 

Hands-On Activities 

Materials Needed

< 2 sweet potatoes

< Container and tongs or 

serving spoon

< Mystery Box/Bag

< Paper and Pencil 

< Baseball

< Napkins, one per child

What To Do Ahead of Time

< Wash sweet potatoes.

< Prepare raw sweet potato 

slices (1⁄4 inch thick), one 

per child.

< Place a clean sweet potato in 

the Mystery Box/Bag.

< Make copies of Sweet Potato 

Growing at Home #1–one 

set per child.

< Review Make a Mystery Box 

or Bag (see Booklet 1,Tool 

Shed Resources, page 45).
Sweet Potato Hill 3

The Activity

< Introduce or reintroduce the Mystery Box/Bag if you have 

used it before. 

< One at a time, ask each child to come and feel inside the box 

or bag without looking. If a child seems afraid, feel inside the 

box/bag with the child.

< Ask each child to describe quietly to you what he/she feels. 

< After everyone has guessed, reveal the sweet potato. Let 

each child hold the sweet potato, if desired. 

< Note the children’s guesses that were close (a plant, food) or 

correct (sweet potato).

< Talk about the sweet potato. Ask the questions below and 

any other questions you like.

▶ Is sweet potato a fruit or a vegetable? (Vegetable) 

▶ What shape is it? (Oblong, like a squished ball) 

▶ What color is the outside of the sweet potato? (Light to 

bright orange) 

▶ How does the outside of it feel? (Bumpy) 

▶ Does it have a smell? (May have no smell or smell musky 

like soil)

▶ Is it light or heavy? (Heavy like a baseball –let the children 

feel the baseball) 

▶ Is it soft or hard? (Hard)

▶ Has anyone ever tasted a sweet potato? (Yes or No)

Activity Conclusion–Tasting

< Conclude the lesson by offering the children a piece of raw 

sweet potato to taste. 

< As necessary, remind the children how the group follows 

polite tasting manners. 

Tip: Save the sweet potato 

from the box or bag for use in 

Activity B1.

Activity Length: 

15 minutes

Words To Grow

Sweet Potato Vegetable

Oblong Heavy (weight)

Orange Bumpy

Hard Brown
4 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

A2: Sweet Potato...A Look Inside

Engage all the senses! The children see and feel the inside of a 

sweet potato, then smell and taste it. 

Objectives

The children will be able to:

< Describe the appearance, smell, and taste of a sweet potato;

< Tell that all of the sweet potato can be eaten including 

the peel.

Before the Activity–Hand Washing 

< Explain that we should always wash our hands before 

preparing and eating food. Have the children wash their 

hands (see Booklet 1, Tool Shed Resources, page 43, 

for directions).

Materials Needed

< Sweet potatoes (one can be 

from Activity A1)

< Sharp knife

< Cutting board or surface

< Container for cooked 

potato pieces

< Forks and napkins

What To Do Ahead of Time

< Scrub the outside of the 

sweet potatoes well.

< Cut one cooked and cooled 

sweet potato into bite size 

cubes, at least one cube 

per child.

< Assemble supplies in a central 

area; keep the knife in a safe 

place until ready to use.
Sweet Potato Hill 5

The Activity

< Have the children gather around the area with the uncooked 

sweet potato and cutting board. If necessary, review with 

children how to be safe around sharp knives: only adults use, 

children keep hands away, and don’t touch a sharp knife. 

< Review what was learned about sweet potatoes in Activity 

A1. If you didn’t do Activity A1, tell the children you have a 

sweet potato to share today. 

< Tell the children that because sweet potatoes grow in the 

ground, we have to scrub the outside with a brush very well 

to remove soil and germs before we cut it open. Tell the 

children you have already washed the sweet potato.

< Cut the sweet potato in half to reveal the inside. Pass the 

sweet potato around for the children to examine. Talk with 

the children about the inside of the sweet potato. Ask the 

questions below and ask additional questions if you like.

▶ What colors are on the inside of the sweet potato? 

(Orange, skin may be brown). 

▶ What part of the sweet potato can be eaten?

(The orange part of the sweet potato is eaten; the peel 

can also be eaten)

▶ How does the inside flesh feel? (The flesh feels smooth 

and hard)

▶ How does the sweet potato smell? (Sweet)

Tasting Activity

< Once the children have explored the piece of sweet potato, 

invite them to taste a cooked cube of sweet potato. 

< Continue the activity:

▶ How does the sweet potato feel in their mouth? (Smooth)

▶ How does the sweet potato taste? (Sweet)

Activity Length: 

15 minutes

Tip: Save the raw potato 

pieces to use in Garden Art 

Stamped Wrapping Paper (see 

Booklet 1, Garden Art and 

Crafts Section, page 32).

Words To Grow

Orange Brown

Skin or peel Flesh

Smooth Hard

Sweet
6 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

A3: Mashed Sweet Potatoes

The children taste two types of mashed potatoes. 

They explore the feel, smell, and taste of sweet potatoes. 

Objective

The children will be able to taste a new food featuring 

sweet potato.

Before the Activity–Hand Washing 

< Explain that we should always wash our hands before 

preparing and eating food. Have the children wash their 

hands (see Booklet 1, Tool Shed Resources, page 43, 

for directions).

 

Materials Needed

< Sweet potatoes 

< Brown sugar

< Margarine

< Orange juice concentrate

< Potato masher(s)

< Paper plates, spoons, 

and napkins

What To Do Ahead of Time

< Wash sweet potatoes. 

< Prepare two batches of 

mashed sweet potatoes–

see Mashed Sweet Potato 

Recipe on page 31, steps 1-6.

< For one batch add 1-2 

teaspoons of brown sugar and 

1-2 teaspoons margarine per 

large cooked sweet potato (1⁄2 

pound raw weight). 

< For the other batch add 1 

tablespoon of orange juice 

concentrate per large cooked 

sweet potato (1⁄2 pound 

raw weight).
Sweet Potato Hill 7

Activity Length:

10-minutes

 The Activity

< Have each child seated at the table(s). 

< Explain that we should always wash and scrub potatoes 

under running water before they are eaten. Let the children 

know you have already washed the potatoes.

< Ask them if they have had sweet potatoes at their family’s 

Thanksgiving or other holiday or family meals.

< Make sure potatoes are not too hot.

< Let each child take a turn mashing the potatoes. 

< Tell the children they will taste the sweet potatoes cooked 

and mashed with two different seasonings added.

< Season the cooked sweet potatoes while the children watch.

Activity Conclusion–Tasting 

< Give each child a small serving of each type of mashed sweet 

potatoes. Make sure the potatoes are warm but not too hot.

< Have the children taste both types of mashed potatoes. As 

they taste their potatoes, have them notice any differences in 

the taste of the sweet potatoes.

< As the children are eating, ask them to describe how the 

mashed sweet potatoes:

▶ smell (sweet, may smell of brown sugar or oranges); 

▶ feel in the mouth (smooth, warm); and 

▶ taste (sweet, may have orange flavor ).

Words To Grow

Sweet Potato Orange

Mashed Peel

Sugar
8 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Sweet Potato Growing at Home #2: Send a copy of this resource 

home with each child at the start of the Section B activities.

B1: Sweet Potatoes Grow From Eyes and Slips

The children see and touch the eyes of sweet potato and learn 

how slips grow from the eyes of the sweet potato.

Objectives 

The children will be able to: 

< Describe how a sweet potato grows from a slip into a plant 

that produces more sweet potatoes; 

< Describe the resources needed to grow sweet potatoes. 

B. Sweet Potato...

Where Do You Come From?

Planting Activities 

Materials Needed

< Fresh sweet potatoes 

with eyes

< Drawing of sweet potato 

(see Booklet 1, Tool Shed 

Resources, page 65)

What To Do Ahead of Time

< Assemble materials.

< Make copies of Sweet Potato 

Growing at Home #2–one 

set per child.

< Plan to serve sweet 

potatoes at meal or snack 

time (see Booklet 1, Tool 

Shed Resources, Ten Terrific 

Ways..., page 48).
Sweet Potato Hill 9

Activity Length: 

10 minutes

Words To Grow

Eye Slip

Peel Soil

Sun Water

The Activity

< Tell the children that today they will learn about how sweet 

potatoes grow. Show the children a fresh sweet potato with 

eyes on it. Eyes or buds are small bumps on the sweet potato’s 

peel that can be rubbed off. Let the children hold and touch the 

sweet potato.

< Explain that sweet potatoes grow from slips (plant parts) 

that grow from the “eyes” or buds of the sweet potato. 

< Explain that the sweet potato slips are planted in long 

narrow rows and covered by the soil.

< Explain that the sweet potato slips grow in the soil; the sun 

and rain help them grow.

< Explain that sweet potatoes grow under the soil while their 

leaves grow above the ground. Show drawing of sweet 

potato plants. 

< Explain to the children that sweet potatoes are gently 

removed from the soil before the weather turns cold.

< Explain to the children that after the sweet potatoes are 

gently pulled up out of the ground, they are carefully placed 

in baskets or boxes so the tender peel is not hurt.

< Explain that the sweet potatoes are taken to a store or a 

farmers’ market where people buy them and take them 

home to eat. 

< Have the children wash their hands (see Booklet 1, Tool Shed 

Resources, page 43, for directions).

Activity Connection to Snack or Mealtime

While eating sweet potatoes in some form (see Booklet 1, 

Tool Shed Resources, Ten Terrific Ways..., page 48) at snack or 

mealtime, talk about how sweet potatoes grow.

Connection to Garden 

Art and Crafts

Sweet Potato Seed Art: 

Decorate a sweet potato shape 

with seeds. Use small white 

beans to show the eyes or buds 

of the potato (see Booklet 1, 

the Garden Art and Crafts Section, page 34).
10 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

B2: Start a Sweet Potato Slip 

The children start a sweet potato slip from sweet potatoes and 

learn what slips need to grow into plants. 

Objectives 

The children will be able to: 

< Describe the resources needed to grow sweet potatoes;

< Experience starting a sweet potato slip.

Option: Start a sweet potato start one month before doing 

the activity with the children to have a slip to show during 

the activity. 

Materials Needed

< Unwashed sweet potatoes 

with eyes, one per child 

< Sharp knife

< Permanent marker

< Wooden craft sticks, three 

per sweet potato

< Narrow-mouth quart-size 

jar (an empty mayonnaise jar 

works well), one per child

< Distilled or spring water 

What To Do Ahead of Time

< Make three 1⁄2-inch horizontal 

slits evenly spaced around the 

middle of each sweet potato. 

< Organize materials in 

central area.

< Plan to serve sweet potatoes 

in some form at snack or 

mealtime (see Booklet 1, Tool 

Shed Resources, Ten Terrific 

Ways..., page 48).
Sweet Potato Hill 11

Activity Length: 

10 minutes

The Activity

< Have each child seated at the table(s). 

< Explain to the children that sweet potatoes are different 

from plants that start from seeds. Sweet potatoes start from 

slips that grow from the eyes on the sweet potato. Tell the 

children that after the sweet potato slip grows, it is planted in 

the soil. Tell the children that today they are going to start a 

sweet potato slip.

< Help the children fill their jars with water, leaving 1⁄2 inch of 

space between the water and top of the jar.

< Give each child a sweet potato and three wooden craft 

sticks. Write each child’s name on one of the wooden sticks 

with permanent marker. Help each child push a wooden craft 

stick into each slit, at least 1⁄2 inch into the sweet potato flesh. 

The wooden craft sticks create a tripod that supports the 

sweet potato on the rim of the jar. This allows half of the 

potato to be below the water level and half above.

< Explain to the children that the sweet potato grows in the jar 

like plants outside grow in the soil.

< Take the children to the window. Point to the sun. Ask them to 

think about how the sun feels on their skin. (Warm) Explain 

that the light and warmth of the sun helps plants to grow.

< Place the jars in a warm location at or above 65 degrees F. 

In about a month, the slip sprouts will grow 8 to 10 inches, 

which is the best length for transplanting to the garden. 

< Have the children check the jars weekly to see the progress 

of their slip sprouts.

< NOTE: Place the jars on top of a water heater to speed the 

growing process.

< Explain to the children that the sweet potato slips are 

planted in the soil outside. The slips need soil, rain, sun, and 

time to grow into sweet potato plants. Sweet potatoes will 

grow from the plants under the ground. The sweet potatoes 

will be ready to be pulled gently from the soil in the fall.

Activity Connection to Snack or Mealtime

While eating sweet potatoes at snack or mealtime, talk about 

starting sweet potato slips and how sweet potatoes grow.

Green Thumb Guide 

Sweet potatoes require a warm, 

long growing season. Sweet 

potato slips started the end of 

April can be planted at the end 

of May. The plants will produce 

sweet potatoes ready to gently 

pull from the soil and eat in the 

fall. To grow plants that will 

produce sweet potatoes, 

purchase sweet potatoes from 

a nursery or mail order catalog; 

follow instructions provided. 

A sweet potato from the 

grocery store will sprout leaves 

and roots, but will not produce 

sweet potatoes if planted.
12 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

B3: Make a Pretend Sweet Potato Hill

The children make a pretend sweet potato hill and learn about 

the growing stages of sweet potatoes.

Objectives 

The children will be able to: 

< Describe the resources needed to grow sweet potatoes;

< Experience making a pretend sweet potato hill.

The Activity

< Have each child seated at the table(s), near the supplies.

< Review with the children how sweet potatoes grow from 

slips planted in the ground. The slips need soil, rain, sun, and 

time to grow into a sweet potato plant. While the plant 

leaves grow above the ground, the sweet potatoes grow 

below the ground. The sweet potatoes are grown and ready 

to be dug up from the ground when the weather turns cool 

in the fall. The farmer gently pulls the sweet potatoes from 

the soil and sends them to stores or farmers’ markets. That is 

where we buy sweet potatoes to take home to eat. Tell the 

children they are going to make a pretend sweet potato hill.

< Show the children drawings of sweet potatoes. Give each 

child a copy of the Sweet Potato Blackline Master. Ask the 

children to color the parts of the sweet potato plant on their 

sheet just like the drawings. The leaves are green and the 

potato is orange. Help any children who need assistance. 

< Help the children cut out, or cut for them, the colored sweet 

potato parts.

Materials Needed

< Large pieces of brown and 

blue paper, each 3 to 6 feet 

long and 18 inches wide 

< Sweet Potato Blackline 

Master (see Booklet 1, Tool 

Shed Resources, page 76)

< Drawings of sweet potatoes 

(see Booklet 1, Tool Shed 

Resources, pages 65-66)

< Crayons, markers, or colored 

pencils, green and orange

< White yarn cut into sets of 

3-, 5-, and 7-inch lengths, one 

set per child

< Blunt-tip scissors

< Paper punch

< Double-stick tape

What To Do Ahead of Time

< Attach the papers to the wall 

with the brown below the blue 

to represent ground and sky.

< Copy Sweet Potato Blackline 

Master on white paper, one 

per child.

< Organize the supplies.

< Plan to serve sweet potatoes in 

some form at snack or mealtime 

(see Booklet 1, Tool Shed 

Resources, Ten Terrific Ways..., 

page 48).

Optional Activity: Make Individual Pretend Sweet Potato Plants. 

< Overlap 81⁄2- by 11-inch sheets of brown and blue paper 1⁄2 

inch along the 11-inch edge and tape together to create a 

surface approximately 16 by 11-inches. 

< Make one set per child; attach the colored potato parts to 

the lower brown section (below ground) and upper blue 

section (above ground). 

< Write each child’s name on the sheet of paper.
Sweet Potato Hill 13

Activity Length: 

15 minutes

Words To Grow

Slip Leaves

Roots Underground

Sweet potato

Connection to Garden

Art and Crafts

Produce Placemat: Use the 

Pretend Sweet Potato Plant to 

decorate a placemat. Use the 

individual plant option and attach the finished plant to one 

side of the placemat. Have the 

children add drawings of their 

favorite sweet potato recipes 

on the reverse side of the 

placemat. Laminate and use this 

reversible placemat to review 

how sweet potatoes grow and 

the different ways we enjoy 

sweet potatoes (see Booklet 1, 

Garden Art and Crafts Section, 

page 29).

Activity continued...

< Take the sweet potato and make a hole with a paper punch 

through each of the three eyes. 

< Give each child a set of cut yarn lengths. Help each child 

thread yarn through the three holes and tape the tip of the 

yarn to the backside of the potato to represent the roots of 

a slip. 

< Position the sweet potato on the brown paper so that the end 

of the potato without the yarn touches where the brown and 

blue papers meet. Use a piece or two of additional doublestick tape to secure the potato to the paper. 

< Position the green leaves on the blue section directly 

touching the top of the potato. When done, it should 

represent the leaves growing above the ground. 

< When finished, the assembled pieces should look like a 

sweet potato with slips growing underneath the ground 

while the green plant leaves grow above the ground.

< Talk about how the plant grows sweet potatoes while 

attaching each part of the sweet potato plant to the papers. 

< Have the children wash their hands for snack or mealtime.

Activity Connection to Snack or Mealtime

While eating sweet potatoes at snack or mealtime, talk about 

how sweet potatoes grow. 
14 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

C1: Cool Puppy Pup’s Sweet Potato Lunch Party Video

View Cool Puppy Pup’s Sweet Potato Lunch Party segment 

with the children. Discuss the sweet potato facts covered in this 

delightful video and have them try Cool Puppy Pup’s favorite 

way to eat sweet potatoes.

Objective

The children will be able to describe how sweet potatoes are Materials Needed grown, harvested, and eaten.

< Cool Puppy Pup DVD 

< TV and DVD Player

< Sweet potatoes, brown sugar, 

and butter

< Plates, spoons, and napkins

What To Do Ahead of Time

< Cue the DVD to start at the 

Sweet Potato segment.

< Prepare mashed sweet 

potatoes with brown sugar 

and butter.

C. Sweet Potato

Stories and Songs
Sweet Potato Hill 15

The Activity

< Gather the children and watch the Sweet Potato segment of 

the video.

< After viewing the segment, ask the children to name their 

favorite parts of the video. Use their responses to lead into 

a discussion about the video. During the discussion, include 

the questions below to review Cool Puppy Pup’s main points 

from the video segment.

< In the video, did Cool Puppy Pup say: 

▶ A sweet potato was a fruit or a vegetable? (Vegetable)

▶ What shape is a sweet potato? (Oblong like a 

squished ball) 

▶ What color is a sweet potato? (Orange)

▶ How does the outside the feel? (Bumpy, yet smooth)

< At tasty Acres Farm, the farmer talked about how sweet 

potoatoes grow. 

▶ Do sweet potatoes grow above or below the ground? 

(Below the ground on a farm)

▶ Where can our families buy sweet potatoes from once 

they are shipped from the farm? (Grocery stores and 

farmers’ markets)

< Have the children name some of the ways that sweet potato 

can be eaten. (In a pie, baked and sprinkled with orange juice 

and cinnamon, cooked with apples, or mashed with a little 

butter and brown sugar)

< Have the children wash their hands (see Booklet 1, Tool Shed 

Resources, page 43, for directions).

< Conclude the activity by telling the children they are going to 

eat a sweet potato, the way that Cool Puppy Pup likes sweet 

potatoes best of all.

< Serve the mashed sweet potatoes.

Connection to Garden 

Art and Crafts

Tasty Acres Mobile: Create a 

sweet potato mobile decorating 

the circles of the mobile with 

drawings of how sweet potatoes grow and favorite sweet 

potato recipes (see Booklet 1, 

Garden Art and Crafts Section, 

page 31).

Activity Length: 

15 minutes
16 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

 

C2: Reading Activity

Read story books to the children that are about or include 

the activities of growing and/or eating fruits and vegetables. 

Listening to such stories can encourage children to adopt 

positive behaviors that can last a lifetime, like trying new fruits 

and vegetables. 

Objective

Children will describe the fun and interesting stories about fruits 

and/or vegetables that were read to them.

Materials Needed

< Books from a library or 

purchased books

< Space for the children to sit

What To Do Ahead of Time

< Clear a space for the children 

to sit around you.

< Choose a book from 

the Harvest of Books list 

(see Booklet 1, Tool Shed 

Resources, page 50).

< Select a book you would like 

to read and either borrow it 

from a library or purchase it.

< Use books relevant to fruits 

and vegetables that may 

already be available to you.
Sweet Potato Hill 17

The Activity

< Have the children sit around you as you read them the book. 

< Ask the children to listen for the names of fruits and 

vegetables as the story is read. 

Discussion Questions: 

< After reading the story, ask the children which fruits and 

vegetables were named in the story and what happened to 

them. For example, 

▶ Where were the fruits and vegetables grown?

▶ What happened to the fruits and vegetables after they 

were picked?

▶ Who ate the fruits and vegetables? 

Add other questions that relate to the story.

Activity Length: 

10 to 20 minutes

depending on the 

length of the book
18 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

C3: Old MacDonald Had a Farm, Sweet Potato Style

The children sing about sweet potatoes and act out motions to 

this familiar tune. 

Objectives

The children will be able to:

< Sing and act out motions to a familiar tune; 

< Say that being physically active helps us feel good. 

The Activity

< Lead the children in singing these new words to the tune 

“Old MacDonald Had a Farm” and demonstrate the 

suggested motions or make up new ones. 

< Encourage the children to move about as they are singing. 

< Explain that skipping, wiggling, stretching, running, jumping, and 

playing actively every day helps us to feel good and 

stay healthy.

Materials Needed

< Sweet potato lyrics to tune 

“Old MacDonald Had a Farm” 

< Large space for the children 

to move about 

What To Do Ahead of Time

< Become familiar with the 

words and motions of 

the song.

Connection to Garden 

Art and Crafts 

Make a Scarecrow: Make a 

Scarecrow, for a creative connection to this activity (see Booklet1, 

Garden Art and Crafts Section, 

page 38).

Activity Length: 

10 minutes 
Sweet Potato Hill 19

Old MacDonald Had a Farm, 

Sweet Potato Style

1st Verse

Old MacDonald had a farm, EIEIO! (Skip in place)

On this farm he grew some sweet potatoes, EIEIO! (Pretend to carry a basket of sweet potatoes)

With plant slips here and plant slips there, (Pretend to hoe ground and plant slips 

Here a slip, there a slip, everywhere plant slips! using large, vigorous motions)

Old MacDonald had a farm, EIEIO! (Skip in place)

2nd Verse

Old MacDonald had a farm, EIEIO! (Skip in place)

On this farm he grew some sweet potatoes, EIEIO! (Pretend to carry a basket of sweet potatoes)

With a tater vine here and a tater vine there, (Squat, wiggle arms & hands like vines, 

Here a vine, there a vine, everywhere a tater vine! jump forward in squat & repeat motions )

Old MacDonald had a farm, EIEIO! (Skip in place)

3rd Verse

Old MacDonald had a farm, EIEIO! (Skip in place)

On this farm he grew some sweet potatoes, EIEIO! (Pretend to carry a basket of sweet potatoes)

Sweet tater here, and sweet tater there, (Pretend to dig a sweet potato)

Here a tater, there a tater, everywhere a sweet tater. (Pretend to dig a sweet potato)

Old MacDonald had a farm, EIEIO! (Skip in place)

4th Verse

Old MacDonald had a farm, EIEIO! (Skip in place)

On this farm he grew some sweet potatoes, EIEIO! (Pretend to carry a basket of sweet potatoes)

With a bite, bite here, and a bite, bite there, (Pretend to eat a sweet potato)

Here a bite, there a bite, everywhere a sweet bite. (Pretend to eat a sweet potato)

Old MacDonald had a farm, EIEIO! (Skip in place)

The children sing about growing and eating sweet potatoes 

and act out motions to this familiar tune. 
20 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Sweet Potato Growing at Home #3: Send a copy of this resource 

home with each child at the start of the Section D activities. 

D1: You Say Potato and I Say Potáto

Introduce the children to the Eat Smart To Play Hard With 

MyPlate poster. The children find sweet and white potatoes in 

the Vegetables group. They taste the difference between sweet 

potatoes and other potatoes. 

Objectives

The children will be able to: 

< Say that sweet potatoes are found in the Vegetables group.

< Say that eating vegetables like sweet potatoes help keep 

us healthy; 

< Compare sweet potatoes to other potatoes;

< Say that being physically active every day helps us feel good 

and is fun;

< Say that eating foods from the different food groups each 

day helps us grow and be healthy; 

< Identify a food from each of the five foods groups.

Before the Activity–Hand Washing and Polite Tasting

< Explain that we should always wash our hands before 

preparing and eating food. Have the children wash their 

hands (see Booklet 1, Tool Shed Resources, page 43, 

for directions).

< If necessary, remind the children about polite food tasting 

habits (see Booklet 1,Tool Shed Resources, page 44, 

for details).

D. Introducing MyPlate 

Nutrition Education Activities

Materials Needed

< Eat Smart To Play Hard 

With MyPlate poster (see 

Booklet 1) 

< Sweet potatoes and red and 

white skin potatoes, two of 

each to show and at least 

one of each to cook

< Plates and napkins

< Spoons or forks, if needed

What To Do Ahead of Time

< Review the foods and activities 

depicted on the poster. 

< Display the poster.

< Wash potatoes, leave one of 

each type whole, and cut one 

of each type in half.

< Prepare bite-size pieces of 

baked or cooked sweet, red 

and white skin potatoes, one 

each per child.

< Make copies of MyPlate 

coloring page (new or use 

copies from a previous D1 

activity), one 

per child.

< Copy Sweet Potato Growing 

at Home #3–one set 

per child.
Sweet Potato Hill 21

Activity Length: 

25 minutes; 

30 minutes if 

optional coloring 

activity 

conducted

The Activity

Learning the Food Groups

< Seat the children in a semicircle on the floor in view of the 

Eat Smart To Play Hard With MyPlate poster.

< Tell the children today they are going to learn about ways to 

be healthy and have fun every day. Tell the children that the 

best part is they like to do what helps them be healthy: they 

like to eat a variety of foods and they like to play. 

< Point out the Eat Smart To Play Hard With MyPlate poster to 

the children. Ask the children to tell you what they see on 

the poster. Accept all correct answers, such as food, specific 

foods by name, children playing, and specific activities by 

name, etc.

< Explain that MyPlate shows the five food groups a person 

should eat from each day. Each food group has its own color. 

The Fruit Group is red, the Vegetable Group is green, the 

Grains Group is orange, the Dairy Group is blue, and the 

Protein Foods Group is purple. Eating foods from each food 

group helps us to be healthy and grow.”

This activity continues on the following pages.
22 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

 < Point to the orange band of color on the poster and ask the 

children to name the color (orange). Tell the children that 

foods made from grains are in the Grains group represented 

by the orange color band. Point to the bread and the cereal 

in the Grains group on the orange band of the poster and 

state that bread and cereal give us energy to play. Ask two 

children to come to the poster, point to a food in the orange 

section, and name the food. After each child names a food, 

repeat the name of the food, and state that __________ 

(the food named) and other foods from the Grains group 

also gives us energy to play. 

< Children this age may not know what a grain is. Tell them 

grains come from plants such as wheat, oats, and corn. Grains 

are used to make foods like cereal, bread, and pasta.

< Point to the green band of color on the poster and ask the 

children to name the color (green). Tell the children that 

foods from plants called vegetables are in the Vegetables 

group represented by the green color band. Point out the 

sweet potato in the Vegetables group on the green band of 

the poster. Ask the children to name this vegetable (sweet 

potato). Ask the children to name a sweet potato’s color 

(orange or yellow/orange). Explain that eating a yellow/

orange-colored vegetable, like a sweet potato, often is a way 

to be healthy. Ask two children to come to the poster, point 

to a vegetable on the green section, and name the vegetable. 

After each child names a vegetable, repeat the name of the 

vegetable and state that __________ (the vegetable named) 

and other foods from the Vegetables group also help keep us 

healthy.

< Point to the red band of color on the poster and ask the 

children to name the color (red). Tell the children that foods 

from plants called fruits are in the Fruits group represented 

by the red color band. Point to the peach and strawberry 

shown in the Fruits group below the red band of the poster 

and state that peaches and strawberries help keep us healthy. 

Ask two children to come to the poster, point to a fruit in 

the red section, and name the fruit. After each child names a 

fruit, repeat the name of the fruit, and state that __________ 

(the fruit named) and other foods from the Fruits group also 

help keep us healthy.

Grains

Vegetables

Fruits
Sweet Potato Hill 23

< Point to the blue band of color on the poster and ask the 

children to name the color (blue). Tell the children that 

milk and foods made from milk are in the Dairy group 

represented by the blue color band. Point to the milk and 

yogurt in the Dairy group below the blue band and state 

that milk and yogurt help us build strong bones. Tell the 

children that it is good to choose low-fat and fat-free milk, 

yogurt, and cheese when given a choice. Ask two children 

to come to the poster, point out a food in the blue section, 

and name the food. After each child names a food, repeat 

the name of the food, and state that __________ (the food 

named) and other foods from the Dairy group also help us 

build strong bones.

< Point to the purple band of color on the poster and ask the 

children to name the color (purple). Tell the children that 

foods from animals and some plants are in the Protein foods 

group represented by the purple color band. Point to the 

meat, fish, egg, beans and peanut butter in the Protein foods 

group below the purple band and state that they help our 

muscles grow. Ask two children to come to the poster, point 

out a food in the purple section, and name the food. After 

each child names a food, repeat the name of the food, and 

state that __________ (the food named) and other foods 

from the Protein food group also help our muscles grow. 

(Note: if only foods that come from animals are selected, 

point out a food from plants and name it. If only foods from 

plants are selected, point out a food that comes from animals 

and name it.)

 Dairy

Protein Foods
24 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Review Activity < While the children are still seated, point to each food group 

color band on the Eat Smart To Play Hard With MyPlate poster. 

< Ask the children to name the food group each color 

represents and to name a food from that group.

Tasting Activity < Show the children the sweet potato and red and white skin 

potatoes. 

< Tell the children that these are potatoes similar to the sweet 

potato, but different in color and taste. 

< Give the children samples of each potato to taste and 

compare to the sweet potato. 

< Invite the children to feel and smell the different whole and 

cut potatoes.

< Ask the children to name different ways to eat vegetables like 

potatoes at different meals and snacks. Accept all answers 

such as mashed, in vegetable salads, baked, etc.

Be Active–Potato Sack Hop

Note to Caregiver: Active play and movement are important for 

every child’s growth and development. Although they may seem 

to be active and energetic, most children do not get the amount 

of physical activity they need for good health. Child care programs 

should provide opportunities for young children (2 to 6 years of age) 

to engage in 90 to 120 minutes (1 1⁄2 to 2 hours) of moderate to 

vigorous physical activity each day. 

Several short periods of activity (10-20 minutes each) work well 

for young children and are easy to plan into the day. Examples of 

moderate to vigorous physical activity that kids this age enjoy include: 

playing on outdoor play equipment, dancing to music, taking a nature 

(or garden) walk, relay races, movement games, hopping, skipping, 

galloping, and riding a tricycle or bicycle. For additional information on 

physical activity for young children, refer to the Nutrition and Wellness 

Tips for Young Children: Provider Handbook for the Child and Adult 

Care Food Program at http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/

nutritionandwellness.html.” < Orange – Grains group < Green – Vegetables group < Red – Fruits group < Blue – Dairy group < Purple – Protein Foods group
Sweet Potato Hill 25 < Point to the various activities depicted on the Eat Smart To 

Play Hard With MyPlate poster. Ask the children to tell you 

why it is important to be physically active and play every day, 

i.e., it helps you to be strong and healthy, and is fun. Tell the 

children that today they will learn to be physically active in a 

way that reminds them of the potatoes they just tasted.

< Take the children to a large open space or outdoors. Ask 

the children to stand in a straight line across one end of the 

open space. Explain to the children that farmers sometimes 

ship potatoes in large, sturdy fabric bags. Tell the children that 

farm children have created a fun game using the empty bags. 

< Tell the children they are going to play with imaginary potato 

sacks today and pretend to give each child a sack. Tell the 

children the sack is large enough for each child to step into 

the sack and pull it up to his or her waist. Explain that since 

both legs are in the sack, the children can only hop to move 

- they can not run, walk, or skip. Show the children how to 

step into their imaginary sack and pull it up to the waist.

< Tell the children that when you count to 3, each child should 

hop in their imaginary potato sack toward the other end of 

the open space. Tell the children when they reach the end of 

the space, they should hop around and hop back to where 

they started. 

< Ask the children to pull their imaginary potato sacks securely 

around their waists, and say, “1, 2, 3, Hop!”

< Conclude the activity by telling the children it is fun to eat 

potatoes and be physically active by doing a Potato Sack Hop. 

Option: If available, show a burlap potato sack or picture 

of a potato sack to the children. If available, give each child 

a burlap potato sack to use for the activity. If fabric potato 

sacks (real or made from burlap fabric) are used, omit the 

references to imaginary sacks in the activity above.

Optional Concluding Activity: Have the children sit at tables with 

coloring supplies. Distribute a copy of the MyPlate coloring page 

(see Booklet 1, Tool Shed Resources, page 83) to each child. Ask 

the children to color the Vegetables group section of MyPlate 

green and draw and color a sweet potato near the Vegetables 

group or use the Blackline Master of a sweet potato (see 

Booklet 1, Tool Shed Resources, page 76) and have the children 

color the sweet potato. With older children have them copy the 

dot-to-dot outline of the word “Vegetables”Ask the children to 

draw a favorite way they like to be physically active on the page. 

If desired, collect the sheet for use in future fruit and vegetable 

units in Grow It, Try It, Like It!
26 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

D2: A Sweet Ending With Sweet Potatoes

The children taste a new sweet potato recipe and talk about 

different ways to eat sweet potatoes.

Objectives

The children will be able to: 

< Taste sweet potato in a combination food, Sweet PotatoOatmeal-Chocolate Chip Bars;

< Describe many different ways to eat sweet potatoes.

Before the Activity–Hand Washing and Polite Tasting

< Explain that we should always wash our hands before 

preparing and eating food. Have the children wash their 

hands (see Booklet 1, Tool Shed Resources, page 43, 

for directions).

< If necessary, remind the children about polite food tasting habits 

(see Booklet 1, Tool Shed Resources, page 44, for details).

Materials Needed

< Sweet Potato-OatmealChocolate Chip Bars–see 

the Child Care Center 

version of this recipe on 

page 28

< Milk, 1⁄2 cup per child

< Cups and napkins

What To Do Ahead of Time

< Prepare the recipe.

< Prepare table(s).
Sweet Potato Hill 27

Words To Grow

Sweet potato Oatmeal

Chocolate chip Salad

Muffin Mashed

Oven-baked

The Activity

< Seat the children at the table(s). 

< Ask the children to share what they remember learning 

about a sweet potato. 

< Encourage responses such as how and where a sweet 

potato grows; how it looks, feels, smells, and tastes and other 

material covered in the unit.

< Tell the children that the unit on sweet potato ends with 

a celebration of a new way to eat sweet potatoes. Sweet 

potatoes can be part of baked foods. 

< Show the children the Sweet Potato-Oatmeal-Chocolate 

Chip Bars and talk about the other foods in the bars.

< Serve the children the Sweet Potato-Oatmeal-Chocolate 

Chip Bars and milk.

< As the children are eating, ask: 

▶ What sweet potato recipes have they made with 

their parents?

▶ What different ways have they eaten sweet potatoes? 

▶ What new ways do they think sweet potatoes could 

be eaten?

< Give suggestions such as sweet potato fries; in breads, muffins 

and cookies, and pies; in potato salads; cooked with apples 

and pork chops; mashed with a bit of brown sugar and butter. 

Activity Length: 

10-15 minutes
28 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Cooking with Children 

Young children can:

• Wash hands first

• Help scrub sweet potato

• Mash cooled sweet potato – do not allow child to mash hot sweet potatoes

• Help measure ingredients

• Stir dry ingredients with supervision

• Stir wet ingredients with some assistance

Adults should prick and cook potatoes, prepare pan, and do all steps involving the use of an oven.

Sweet PotatoOatmeal-Chocolate 

Chip Bars For the Child and Adult Care Food Program

•	 3⁄4 cup whole-wheat flour

•	 11⁄4 cups quick-cook oatmeal (not instant)

•	 1tsp baking soda

•	 1 tsp ground cinnamon

•	 1⁄2 tsp ground nutmeg

•	 1 cup (6 ounces) of semisweet mini chocolate chips or regular size chocolate chips

Preparation Time: 30 minutes Cooking Time: 25-30 minutes

Yield: 64 child-size portions of 1⁄2 bar

1⁄2 bar provides the equivalent of 1⁄4 slice of bread towards CACFP meal pattern

•	 2 large, fresh sweet potatoes cooked and mashed 

 (see Tip below)

•	 3⁄4 cup sugar

•	 1⁄4 cup canola oil

•	 1⁄4 cup low-fat or fat-free plain yogurt

•	 1 large egg, beaten

•	 3⁄4 cup all-purpose flour

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Place sweet potato and sugar in large mixing bowl; mash until smooth.

3. Add oil, yogurt, and egg and mix thoroughly.

4. Measure and mix flours, oatmeal, baking soda, and spices in a medium-size bowl.

5. Add dry ingredients to sweet potato mixture and stir just enough to combine. 

6. Add chocolate chips and stir to mix.

7. Spray 13”x 9”x 2” baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

8. Pour batter into pan; smooth out batter evenly in pan and place pan on middle rack in oven.

9. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until lightly brown. 

10. Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 8-10 minutes. Cut into bars (4 cuts by 8 cuts) and remove from pan. 

Cool before serving.

Variation: Substitute drained, canned sweet potatoes (15-ounce can) for fresh sweet potatoes. Do not use canned, 

candied sweet potatoes. 

Tip: Scrub fresh sweet potatoes, prick them with a fork, and cook in the microwave 10-15 minutes until done. Cool 

sweet potatoes to a temperature comfortable to the touch and remove flesh from skins. 

Nutrients per 1 child-size serving of 1⁄2 bar: Calories 52.5, Protein 1 g, Carbohydrate 8.6 g, Total Fat 1.9 g, 

Saturated Fat .6 g, Cholesterol 3.5 mg, Vitamin A 1233 IU, Vitamin C 1.4 mg, Iron 0.4 mg, Calcium 6.7mg, Sodium 22.5 mg, 

Dietary Fiber .7 g
Sweet Potato Hill 29

Growing at Home Materials...

for Sweet Potato Hill Lessons
30 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Sweet Potato Growing at Home #1 

Home Activities From Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Tip:

 Visit a farmers’ market with your 

child. Chances are you’ll find new 

varieties of mouth-watering fruits 

or vegetables to try.

Dear Parents and Guardians:

Today we began our series featuring sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are similar to 

other potatoes and are found in the produce section of the grocery store. Sweet potatoes may also be called yams in various parts of the country. Sometimes stores will 

feature both sweet potatoes and yams–the difference is the color of the inside of the 

potato and the region of the country. Sweet potatoes and yams are sweeter in flavor 

than other types of potatoes.

Today your child learned about sweet potatoes and how this vegetable looks, feels, 

tastes, and smells. He/she learned that sweet potatoes:

• Are oblong shaped, like a squished ball;

• Feel bumpy but smooth and have a thin peel, similar to white potatoes;

• Are light to bright orange on the outside;

• Are orange inside; and

• Taste sweet.

Try making the Mashed Sweet Potatoes recipe shown on the following page with 

your child. These are a delicious change of taste from white potatoes. Or, you may 

wish to make a family recipe with your child that includes sweet potatoes. 

If sweet potatoes are a new food to your family, have your child share with you what 

was learned today. The enclosed activity, Sweet Potato Number Match, gives 

your child a chance to talk with you about sweet potatoes. Young children love to do 

activities with their parents. Working with your child at home helps support what we 

teach during the day. Your child may be more willing to try new and different foods at 

child care–and at home!

Please call if you have questions about this activity or want more information.

Sincerely,

Child Care Center Director
Sweet Potato Hill 31

Mashed 

Sweet Potatoes

Cooking with Children 

Young children can:

• Wash hands first

• Help scrub potatoes with a brush

• Wrap potatoes in aluminum foil 

Adults should use sharp knifes and forks to prick potato skins, place 

and remove potatoes from hot oven, remove foil from hot potatoes, 

and mash hot potatoes with seasonings.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 1-11⁄4 hours

Serves: 12 child-size portions of 1⁄4 cup

Serves: 6 adult-size portions of 1⁄2 cup

•	 2 lbs (4 medium) fresh sweet potatoes

•	 1 Tbsp soft margarine

•	 1 Tbsp brown sugar

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Scrub sweet potatoes under cool tap water with vegetable brush. Use knife to remove any bad 

spots or defects on the potato. Keep sweet potatoes whole and do NOT peel. 

3. Prick sweet potatoes with fork in several spots. Wrap in aluminum foil. 

4. Bake sweet potatoes 1 to 1 1⁄4 hours or until tender when pressed.

5. When the sweet potatoes are done, remove from oven. Let potatoes cool briefly; remove foil. Slit 

open potato, taking care to avoid skin contact with escaping steam.

6. Scoop flesh into serving dish. 

7. Add margarine and brown sugar to sweet potatoes. Lightly mash sweet potatoes and flavorings 

together with fork.

8. Serve immediately.

Variations: Substitute 2 tablespoons frozen, thawed concentrated orange juice for margarine and 

brown sugar. Substitute 1 tablespoon cinnamon for brown sugar.

Tip: To save time, cook sweet potatoes in microwave oven. Be sure to prick holes in potato with fork 

before cooking, but do NOT wrap in aluminum foil. Microwave on high for 10-15 minutes or until knife 

easily inserts into potatoes. Adults should do all steps involving microwave oven. 

Nutrients per 1 child-size serving of 1⁄4 cup: Calories 52, Protein 1 g, Carbohydrate 10 g, Total Fat 1 g, 

Saturated Fat 0.2 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Vitamin A 9267 IU, Vitamin C 9.4 mg, Iron 0.3 mg, Calcium 18.6 mg, 

Sodium 29 mg, Dietary Fiber 1.6 g

Home Activities From Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Sweet Potato Growing at Home 
32 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Sweet Potato Number Match

Dear Parents and Guardians: 

Your child has been learning about sweet potatoes. 

A sweet potato is an oblong shaped, orange 

vegetable that tastes sweet. Help your child count 

the sweet potatoes and draw a line between each 

sweet potato group to the correct matching 

number. See if your child can tell you five facts 

about sweet potatoes.

1 2 3 4 5
Sweet Potato Hill 33

Sweet Potato Growing at Home #2 

Home Activities From Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Dear Parents and Guardians:

We continue to learn about sweet potatoes in our daily activities. Sweet potatoes are 

an interesting food; the way they grow interests children. 

Today your child learned about sweet potatoes and how this vegetable grows and is 

harvested. Your child has learned that sweet potatoes:

• Start from slips that grow from the “eyes” or buds of the potato;

• Need sun, soil, water, and time to grow;

• Have plants that grow above ground;

• Grow in the ground; and

• Are dug out of the ground during the early part of fall before the 

weather turns cold.

Talk with your child about how sweet potatoes grow while the two of you make 

Oven-Baked Sweet Potato Planks, the recipe is attached. This easy-to-prepare 

recipe is sure to please the entire family. Make it, or another favorite recipe, featuring 

sweet potatoes this week with your child. 

Take a few minutes to help your child complete the attached activity, Sweet Potatoes 

Grow From Eyes. Serving colorful vegetables like sweet potatoes often will help 

your child accept new foods at child care–and at home!

Please call if you have questions about this activity or want more information.

Sincerely,

Child Care Center Director Tip: 

Somebody’s eyes are watching...

you! Children are more likely to 

follow our actions than our words. 

Serve different vegetables with 

dinner and show you eat a wide 

variety. Your child will follow 

your lead.
34 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Cooking with Children 

Young children can:

• Wash hands first

• Help scrub potatoes with a brush

• Sprinkle salt and pepper evenly over the planks

Adults should remove any bad spots or defects on the potato with a knife, and 

place and remove potatoes from hot oven. 

Oven Baked Sweet 

Potato Planks 

(Wedges)

Home Activities From Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Sweet Potato Growing at Home 

Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Serves: 16 child-size portions of 2 planks

Serves: 8 adult-size portions of 4 planks 

•	 nonstick cooking spray

•	 11⁄2 lbs (2 large) fresh sweet potatoes

•	 1⁄8 tsp black pepper

•	 1⁄2 tsp salt

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Spray 10”x14” cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray.

3. Scrub potatoes under cool tap water with vegetable brush. Use knife to remove any bad spots or defects on 

the potato. Do NOT peel. 

4. Cut each potato in half and each half into 8 wedges or plank-size fries. Spread potato planks evenly on 

cookie sheet, and spray potatoes with nonstick cooking spray.

5. Sprinkle salt and pepper evenly over planks.

6. Place cookie sheet in oven and bake for approximately 20-30 minutes or until potatoes are just tender. If 

desired, the potatoes can be placed under oven broiler for about 3 minutes, turned, and broiled 3 minutes 

on other side.

7. Remove from oven and serve.

Note: The size of the potato planks may cause cooking time to vary. Pointed ends will cook faster; trimming 

ends of points prevents overcooking.

Tips:

1. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over potatoes after they are removed from oven for extra flavor.

2. Oven-bake a mixture of sweet potatoes and other root vegetables, such as turnips, parsnips, and 

baking potatoes.

Nutrients per 1 child-size serving of 2 planks: Calories 27, Protein 0.5 g, Carbohydrate 6.6 g, Total Fat 0 g, 

Saturated Fat 0 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Vitamin A 5892 IU, Vitamin C 6.6 mg, Iron 0.1 mg, Calcium 7.5 mg, Sodium 76 mg, 

Dietary Fiber 0.8 g

• 1⁄

8
Sweet Potato Hill 35

Sweet Potatoes Grow From Eyes

Dear Parents and Guardians: 

Your child has been learning about sweet potatoes. 

Talk with your child about how sweet potatoes 

grow while he or she colors the drawings below. 

Sweet potato plants grow from the eyes (buds) on 

sweet potatoes. The plant grows above the ground 

and the actual sweet potatoes grow in the ground. 

A farmer plants slips in the ground to grow more 

sweet potatoes. You can start a sweet potato slip 

at home by suspending a sweet potato in a jar of 

water; see the directions on the other side of this 

page. In a few weeks, leaves and roots will grow 

from the sweet potato. 
36 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Start a Sweet Potato Slip

This activity starts a sweet potato slip from sweet potatoes and shows what slips need to 

grow into plants. 

To grow plants that will produce sweet potatoes, purchase sweet potatoes from a 

nursery or mail order catalog; follow instructions provided. A sweet potato from the 

grocery store will sprout leaves and roots, but will not produce sweet potatoes if planted.

Materials Needed

Unwashed sweet potato with eyes 

Sharp knife

Permanent marker

3 wooden craft sticks 

Narrow mouth quart-size jar (an empty mayonnaise jar works well) 

Distilled or spring water

The Activity

Help your child fill the quart-size jar with water, leaving 1⁄2 inch of space between 

the water and top of the jar.

Make three 1⁄2-inch horizontal slits evenly spaced around the middle of the sweet 

potato. 

Help your child push a wooden craft stick into each slit, at least 1⁄2 inch into the sweet 

potato flesh. The wooden craft sticks create a tripod that supports the sweet potato 

on the rim of the jar. This allows half of the potato to be below the water level and 

half above.

Place the jars in a warm location at or above 65 degrees F. In about a month, the 

slip sprouts will grow 8 to 10 inches from the top half of the sweet potato, which is 

the best length for transplanting to the garden. 

Have your child check the jar weekly to see the progress of the slip sprouts.

NOTE: Place the jars on top of a water heater to speed the growing process.

Explain to your child that the sweet potato slips are planted in the soil outside. 

The slips need soil, rain, sun, and time to grow into sweet potato plants. Sweet 

potatoes will grow on the plants under the ground. The sweet potatoes will be 

ready to remove gently from the soil in the fall.
Sweet Potato Hill 37

Sweet Potato Growing at Home #3 

Home Activities From Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Dear Parents and Guardians:

We are finishing our series of lessons on sweet potatoes. We have had fun 

completing the many activities featuring this vegetable with your child.

Today your child learned some ways sweet potatoes are prepared and served. Sweet 

potatoes can be: 

• Used in potato salads;

• Served as sweet potato fries;

• Used in muffins and cookies; and

• Cooked with apples and pork chops.

Sweet Potato-Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Bars (recipe attached) brought a sweet 

ending to our tasting of foods made with sweet potatoes. Try this recipe at home; your 

child would love to help! Or have your child help select and prepare a family recipe 

that includes sweet potatoes.

Your child will enjoy making a Sweet Potato Windsock with you. The activity is 

included with this packet. With just a little assistance from you, your child will have a 

cheerful reminder to enjoy sweet potatoes often–whenever the wind blows. We 

appreciate your time at home helping your child with activities that extend our 

daytime lessons. Keep reviewing the information and offering the fruits and vegetables 

we study at child care in your home meals. These are two ways to help your child’s 

mind and body grow. 

Please call if you have questions about this activity or want more information.

Sincerely,

Child Care Center Director

Tip: 

Involve your child in planning 

meals and snacks. Let your child 

choose fruit for a snack and a 

vegetable for dinner.
38 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Preparation Time: 30 minutes Cooking Time: 25-30 minutes

Serves: 64 child-size portions of 1⁄2 bar

Serves: 32 adult-size portions of 1 bar

•	 2 large, fresh sweet potatoes cooked and mashed 

 (see Tip below)

•	 3⁄4 cup sugar

•	 1⁄4 cup canola oil

•	 1⁄4 cup low-fat or fat-free plain yogurt

•	 1 large egg, beaten

•	 3⁄4 cup all-purpose flour

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Place sweet potato and sugar in large mixing bowl: mash until smooth.

3. Add oil, yogurt, and egg; mix thoroughly.

4. Measure and mix flours, oatmeal, baking soda, and spices in medium-size bowl.

5. Add dry ingredients to sweet potato mixture; stir just enough to combine. 

6. Add chocolate chips and stir to mix.

7. Spray 13”x 9”x 2” baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

8. Pour batter into pan; smooth out batter evenly in pan and place pan on middle rack in oven.

9. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-30 minutes or until lightly brown. 

10. Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 8-10 minutes. Cut into bars (4 cuts by 8 cuts) and 

remove from pan. Cool before serving.

Variation: Substitute drained, canned sweet potatoes (15-ounce can) for fresh sweet potatoes. 

Do not use canned, candied sweet potatoes. 

Tip: Scrub fresh sweet potatoes, prick them with a fork, and cook in the microwave 10-15 minutes until done. 

Cool sweet potatoes to temperature comfortable to the touch and remove flesh from skins. 

Nutrients per 1 child-size serving of 1⁄2 bar: Calories 52.5, Protein 1 g, Carbohydrate 8.6 g, Total Fat 1.9 g, 

Saturated Fat .6 g, Cholesterol 3.5 mg, Vitamin A 1233 IU, Vitamin C 1.4 mg, Iron 0.4 mg, Calcium 6.7mg, Sodium 22.5 mg, 

Dietary Fiber .7 g

Sweet PotatoOatmeal-Chocolate 

Chip Bars

•	 3⁄4 cup whole-wheat flour

•	 11⁄4 cups quick-cook oatmeal (not instant)

•	 1tsp baking soda

•	 1 tsp ground cinnamon

•	 1⁄2 tsp ground nutmeg

•	 1 cup (6 ounces) of semisweet mini chocolate chips or regular size chocolate chips

Home Activities From Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Sweet Potato Growing at Home 

Cooking with Children 

Young children can:

• Wash hands first

• Help scrub sweet potato

• Mash cooled sweet potato – do not allow child to mash hot sweet potatoes

• Help measure ingredients

• Stir dry ingredients with supervision

• Stir wet ingredients with some assistance

Adults should prick and cook potatoes, combine dry and wet batter ingredients, prepare pan, and do 

all steps involving the use of an oven.
Sweet Potato Hill 39

Make a Sweet Potato Windsock

Dear Parents and Guardians: 

Have your child color the drawing with crayons, 

paint, or markers. Help your child cut along the 

dashed lines of the windsock. Make sure to cut each 

individual vine banner separately so they can move 

freely. Help tape or staple together the edges of the 

paper to form a tube with the sweet potato at the 

top and the vine banners hanging down. Punch the 

two holes in the top of the windsock at the dark circles. Thread ribbon, yarn, or string through the holes 

and tie together. Hang the windsock up and watch 

the sweet potato and vines dance in the breeze.
40 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Notes
Sweet Potato Hill 41

Notes
42 Grow It, Try It, Like It!

Notes
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal and, where applicable, political 

beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or if all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public 

assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the 

Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)

If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, 

found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the 

form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or 

letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.

Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities and wish to file either an EEO or program complaint please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish).

Persons with disabilities who wish to file a program complaint, please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly 

or by email. If you require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) 

please contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Revised June 2013

September 2009

FNS-406

United States Department of Agriculture • Food and Nutrition Service 

Find more fun resources at these Web sites:

teamnutrition.usda.gov

choosemyplate.gov