A GIANT banana teaching class and a lesson on potato jokes – not your average school day.
But youngsters at Sidmouth Primary School in Hull are enjoying a week with a difference.
The children are having five days of learning about fruit and vegetables for Healthy Lifestyle Week.
The fun kicked off yesterday when teachers surprised their students by dressing up as fruit and vegetables.
Included on the staff team were a banana, a tomato, a carrot, a potato and some sweetcorn.
Each class went to the Avenues school in a different colour – making a rainbow of bright T-shirts and dresses for our photograph.
"I'm looking forward to trying different fruits and we are going on a trip to Pearson Park," said year two pupil Chloe Duffill, seven.
"I think Mr Newton looked best in his banana costume."
Year one pupil Leen Alodat, six, was taught by Lorraine Richmond, who was dressed as a potato.
Her class wore brown and spent the morning learning all about potatoes.
Leen said: "We did printing with potatoes and paint.
"Then we learnt a song about potatoes.
"We also told some potato jokes. One was 'What do you get if you cross an elephant and a potato? Mashed potato'."
Year 6 pupil Masie Brindley, 11, wore a bright blue top for the occasion.
She said: "In cooking club we are making food for a picnic on Friday – so everyone will eat the things we make."
Today is singing and craft day at the school and parents will be invited in to help make a collage of food.
On Wednesday, there will be an activity day where children will be able to develop their sports skills.
Thursday marks International Food Day and each class will focus on a different country.
To round off the week on Friday, pupils will learn about food hygiene before making their own picnic lunch to eat on the school field. Teddy Bears are also invited to attend.
Maria Crowther, the head of the school's board of governors, said: "We set up the Healthy Eating Committee a year and a half ago and it was the committee's idea to hold this week.
"So far, the children have really enjoyed themselves and it has gone well.
"Yvonne Stark and Nicola Clarke have done a lot of the organising and we have a full week planned."
The school has set up a number of health initiatives based on healthy lifestyles.
In one scheme, award cards are handed to children who have eaten healthily during the week – for example, those who bring in a healthy packed lunch, eat all their dinner or have a piece of fruit every day.
Their names are then entered in a raffle and, on Mondays, the winner is announced.
The winning pupil gets a host of goodies, provided by governor Lynn Stark, which includes health-related items like fruit and toothpaste.
Lorraine Richmond, who teaches year one, said: "We also have an allotment for children to grow things in and next year we're hoping to sell some of the flowers they have grown.
"In the past, they have grown vegetables which we have either sold or given them to take home.
"Miss Jacobs takes down classes so they can learn how they grow."
