Standard of Learning

 

4.1   The student will explain how nutrition affects personal health and academic achievement. Key concepts/skills include:

1. the nutrients needed for proper brain functioning;
2. the importance of balance, variety, and moderation in a meal plan;
3. the effects of malnutrition;
4. the impact of nutrients on growth and development;
5. the impact of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins on physical performance.

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Understanding the Standard

The student will understand that proper nutrition is essential for growth and development.

Essential Knowledge and Skills

The student will:

• describe what happens to your body as you grow.
• describe the benefits of healthy eating.
• identify foods which contain:
  • protein – for growth;
  • calcium – for bone development;
  • water – needed by every cell in the body;
  • carbohydrates and fats – for energy; and
  • vitamins and minerals – to regulate body functions.
  • develop and adopt personal goals to achieve healthy eating.

Sample Lessons

Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH)
Grades 3-5 (Hearty Heart and Friends - 3rd grade; Go For Health - 4th and 5th grades; and Facts for 5 - 5th grade)
*Evaluated program with mixed results
Coordinated effort between classroom, cafeteria, and physical education to decrease fat, saturated fat, and sodium in students' diets; increase physical activity; and prevent tobacco use.
Sponsor: Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH)
http://www.sph.uth.tmc.edu/chppr/catch/andhttp://www.flaghouse.com
+Cost

Design and Implement a Personal Fitness Plan
Students, through self-evaluation, create and implement a personal fitness plan to be carried out over ten physical education classes. Plan based on FITT principle, components of fitness, overload principle, specificity, safety and proper technique of all equipment, motivational and monitoring techniques and strategies.
Sponsor: Public Broadcasting Service
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans//fitforlife.html
Free

Discoveryschool.com> Extreme Measures: Body Image
Students learn to identify specific physical and emotional characteristics within themselves and others, demonstrate an understanding of the importance of personal diet and exercise, and demonstrate skills necessary to record personal data.
Sponsor: Discovery School
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/extrememeasures/
Free

Dole's Five A Day Lesson Plans
Covers food journals, new fruits and vegetables, measuring portions, and where plants grow. Linked with reading/language arts, math, history, social science, science, geography, health, art/music/dance, agriculture, technology, home school, community service learning, and recognition curricula standards.
Sponsor: Dole
http://www.dole5aday.com/index.jsp
Free

Eat Well and Keep Moving
Grades 4-5
*Evaluated program
Comprehensive program to increase physical activity, increase fruits and vegetables, decrease fat, and decrease television viewing. Children learn as they move. Includes 44 lessons, CD-ROM to customize lessons, worksheets, school campaigns, and reproducible materials.
Sponsor: Harvard University
http://www.humankinetics.com
+Cost

Elementary Interdisciplinary Curriculum: Every Day, Lots of Ways (EDLOW)
Grades: K-1, 5 A Day for Better Health (focus - five fruits and vegetables a day)
Curriculum to promote healthy food choices.
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Education
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/food_nutrition/cwp

5 A Day The Color Way - "There's a Rainbow on My Plate"
Grades K-6 (K-3, 4, 5, 6)
Encourages students to eat more fruits and vegetables each day through a variety of lessons and activity sheets. Teacher's guide, take home literature, recipes.
Sponsor: Dole Food Company
http://www.5aday.com
Free

The Food Groups: Food Pyramid
Grades 3-5
Students learn about the five food groups and how to use the food pyramid as their guide.
Sponsor: Ask ERIC Lesson Plan
Two classes
<<a href="http://www.eduref.org" class="link">http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans - health - nutrition)
Free

Food Works
Grades 3-5
Activity-based program to build skills and motivate students to make healthy food choices. Each kit includes teaching guide, videos, magazines, family newsletter, posters, and worksheets. Produced in 1995.
Sponsor: USDA
http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/educators/scholastic.html
+Cost

The Great Body Shop
Grades preK-6
Evaluated program
Encourages students to make life-long healthy choices including healthy nutrition and physical activity. Comprehensive health education program. Topics include: --Critical thinking
--Life skills
--Health values Available in English and Spanish; parent bulletins in seven languages
Sponsor: The Children's Health Market
http://www.thegreatbodyshop.net
+Cost

Gregory, The Terrible Eater
Grades 3-4
Students demonstrate understanding of balanced meals and food sources from the various food groups. Construct healthy menus and determine costs of the foods. Based on the book Gregory, The Terrible Eater.
Sponsor: Ask ERIC Lesson Plan
One class period
http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans - health - nutrition)
Free

Health Database
Grades 2-5
Students analyze the content of school lunches to see if the lunches are balanced.
Sponsor: Ask ERIC Lesson Plan
Five class periods
http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans - health - nutrition)
Free

Healthy Weights for Healthy Kids
Grades 3-6
Addresses healthy eating, physical activity, and positive body image for children. Discusses healthy food, drink, and snack choices; physical activity options; and positive body image.
Sponsor: Virginia Cooperative Extension
Contact Local County Extension Office
Free

HeartPower
Grades 3-5
Teaches students about the heart and how to keep it healthy. Includes physical activity, nutrition, and living tobacco-free. Science-based.
--Healthy-Heart Menus Quick Activity (Children create a one-minute television feature called "The Healthy-Heart Minute.")
--Target: No Smoking Game
--A Bunch of Reasons Not to Smoke Quick Activity
--Stand and Deliver Game
--What Does the Heart Do? - lesson idea
--How Does Blood Circulate? - lesson idea
--How Do Foods Help Our Bodies? - lesson idea (Encourages students to eat a variety of healthy foods. Describes various nutrients.)
--How Do You Choose Snacks and Other Foods? - lesson idea (Discusses factors influencing why students choose the foods they do. Activity sheets.)
--How Does Physical Activity Help You? - lesson idea (Discusses factors that influence students' choices about physical activity.)
--How Can You Stay Fit? - lesson idea (Discusses peer influences on personal health decisions related to fitness. Discusses heart-healthy fitness. Activity sheet. "What's Your Activity IQ?")
--"Smoking in the Cellar" - lesson idea
--Label the Heart's Parts - activity sheet
--What's in Foods? - activity sheet
--Be Choosy! - activity sheet
--Rate that Snack! - activity sheet
Sponsor: American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org
Free

Is it Fruit?
Grades 2-4
Students learn what constitutes a fruit and that only 100% juice should be considered a fruit.
Sponsor: Ask ERIC Lesson Plan
One class period
http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans - health - nutrition)
Free

Mission Nutrition
Grades K-5 (K-1; 2-3; 4-5)
Three units related to promoting healthy body image, healthy eating, and physical activity. Includes lesson plans and student activities.
Sponsor: Dietitians of Canada and Team from Kellogg Canada, Inc.
http://www.missionnutrition.ca/missionnutrition/eng/educators/
Free

Nutrition – Food Pyramid Book and Game
Grades 2-6
Students create a food pyramid and classify foods.
Sponsor: Ask ERIC Lesson Plan
One class period.
http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans - health - nutrition)
Free

Nutritious and Delicious
Grades 3-4
Students create a food pyramid, keep a food diary for one week, and compare what they eat with the pyramid.
Sponsor: Ask ERIC Lesson Plan
Two class periods
http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans - health - nutrition)
Free

Nutrition Education - Choices
Grade(s): 4
In this lesson students will learn how food, exercise and weight control are important.
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=953
Free

Nutrition Education - Dietary Solutions
Grade(s): 4
The students will understand how a healthy diet and exercise can increase the likelihood of physical and mental wellness.   Also students will learn that nutritional problems can have solutions.
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=952
Free

Nutrition Education - Height and Weight
Grade(s): 4
Students will learn about height and weight differences.
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=954
Free

Nutrition Education - Important Vitamins and Minerals
Grade(s): 4
The students will understand how a healthy diet and exercise can increase the likelihood of physical and mental wellness by learning about key vitamins and minerals.
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=949
Free

Nutrition Education - Nutritionally Well
Grade(s): 4
The students will understand how a healthy diet and exercise can increase the likelihood of physical and mental wellness because nutrients affect growth and well-being.
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=951
Free

Nutrition Education - Vitamins and Minerals
Grade(s): 4
The students will understand how a healthy diet and exercise can increase the likelihood of physical and mental wellness.
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=959
Free

Oral Health Education: Saving Smiles Series- “Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body”
Grades:  4 & 5
Lesson Plan (1) Identify the components of a balanced meal and describe carbohydrates and their impact on oral health. (SOL 4.1b, d ; 5.2b)
Lesson Plan (2) Develop an awareness of community health resources available (SOL 4.5a,b ; 4.6a ; 5.4a,b ; 5.5c,d,e,f)
Lesson Plan (3) Describe the causes of dental diseases including the role of bacterial plaque, and describe how dental diseases can be
prevented. (SOL 4.4b,d ; 5.2a)
Lesson Plan (4) Identify laws related to the purchase of tobacco products and describe the effects of tobacco on oral health and the body. (SOL 4.4b,d ; 5.2a) 
Sponsor: Virginia Department of Health, Division of Dental Health
Contact:  http://www.vahealth.org/teeth/OralHealthEducation.asp (curriculum resources)
Free

Pyramid Explorations
Grade Four
Program to teach students about good eating habits, sound nutrition, and the Food Guide Pyramid. Lessons based on aliens coming to earth to learn about nutrition. Each activity is one act of a six-act plan. Includes activity sheets, teacher guide, workbook for each student, food pyramid poster, handouts, and additional activities.
Sponsor: National Dairy Council
http://www.nutritionexplorations.org
Free

Additional Instructional Resources

• Captain Nutrition - http://www.nutritionexplorations.com
• Dairy Council - http://www.familyfoodzone.com
• Good Food Choices - http://www.neatsolutions.com
• Nutrition Cafe - http://www.exhibits.pacsci.org/nutrition

Assessment Ideas

The student will:

• explain what happens to your body as you grow.
• generate a list of foods that impact growth and development.

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