Standard of Learning

6.2 The student will use knowledge of the body's structure and function to make sound decisions related to personal health. Key concepts/skills include:

1. relationships of the United States Department of Health and Human Services Dietary Guidelines for Americans to personal eating habits;
2. the interconnection of the body systems;
3. the effects of disease on the functions of the body;
4. the relationship of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, inhalants, and other harmful substances to body functioning;
5. the positive and negative effects of prescription and over-the-counter medications on body functioning.

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Understanding the Standard

The student will understand the importance of using the dietary guidelines to make healthy food choices.

Essential Knowledge and Skills

The student will:

• understand the rationale for the dietary guidelines.
• list the seven dietary guidelines:
  • eat a variety of foods;
  • balance the food eaten with physical activity to maintain a healthy weight;
  • limit the amount of fatty foods consumed;
  • eat a variety of grains, vegetables, and fruits;
  • limit salt intake;
  • limit amount of processed sugar consumed; and
  • do not drink alcoholic beverages.
• understand what is meant by a serving size and how it is determined.
• recognize factors that influence eating habits.

Instructional Strategies

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

Discovering Foods of Mexico
Grades 5-6
Compares nutritional and wellness practices between cultural groups.
Sponsor: PBS
One-two class periods
http://www.pbs.org/foodancestors/midplan.html
Free

Eating Forever
Grades 6-12
Importance of a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Sponsor: PBS
One-two class periods
http://www.pbs.org/teachersource(select Health & Fitness - Middle School - Diet & Nutrition)
Free

Elementary Interdisciplinary Curriculum: Every Day , Lots of Ways (EDLOW)
Grades 4-6: Energy Choices (focus - learn to make healthy food choices)
Curriculum to promote healthy food choices.
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Education
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/food_nutrition/cwp

Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger
Grades 6-8
International classroom for exploring the problems of hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity.
--What Are Hunger and Malnutrition?
--Who Are the Hungry?
--Why Are People Hungry and Malnourished?
--What Can We Do to Help End Hunger?
Three or more class periods
Contact: http://www.feedingminds.org
Free

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 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

A Healthy Diet
Grades 5-8
Maintain a three-day food diary to determine how much fat is consumed.
Sponsor: PBS
Two class periods
http://www.pbs.org/saf/1104/teaching/teaching3.htm
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 6-8
Teaches students about the heart and how to keep it healthy. Includes physical activity, nutrition, and living tobacco-free. Science-based.
--Healthy Snacks - quick activity (Discusses what makes snacks healthy. Students develop recipes for healthy snacks and plan how they would market the snack.)
--Build Your Own Pyramid - activity sheet (Students record what they eat throughout the day on the food pyramid and discuss the results.)
--Become a Fat Detective - quick activity (Students analyze fast food menus to find fats and discuss more healthy ways to cook.)
--Aerobic or Anaerobic? - quick activity (Discusses differences between aerobic and anaerobic exercise, and the relationship between regular physical activity and a healthy heart. Students keep records of their activities.)
--How Does the Heart Work? - lesson idea
--What Increases the Risks of CVD? - lesson idea
--More or Less? - lesson idea
--Why Is a Low-Fat Diet a More Healthful Diet? - lesson idea (Encourages children to eat a variety of healthy foods to maintain a healthy heart. Activity sheets.)
--How Do You Choose a Physical Activity? - lesson idea (Relationship between exercise, body concept and a healthy heart. Activity sheets. Create an exercise video.)
--How Can You Help Others Stay Tobacco Free? - lesson idea
--Why Is Secondhand Smoke Dangerous? - lesson idea
--Build Your Own Pyramid - activity sheet
--Today's Specials - activity sheet
--What or Who Influences Your Food Choices? - lesson idea (Relationship between healthful food choices and self-concept.)
Sponsor: American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org(select HeartPower!)
Free

LOAFS - Learning on a Full Stomach
Grades 5-12
Students look at hunger problems within their own communities and are encouraged to implement a LOAFS program.
Sponsor: Ask ERIC Lesson Plan
Three classes
http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans – health – nutrition)
Free

A Meal of Endurance
Grades 5-8
Explores nutritional value of antarctic explorers' high fat diet.
Sponsor: PBS
One class period
http://www.pbs.org/teachersource (select Health & Fitness - Middle School - Diet & Nutrition)
Free

Middle Level Interdisciplinary Curriculum (Mid-LINC)
Curriculum teaches nutrition concerns to pre-adolescents.
--Prehistoric vs. Modern Diet
--Growing to the Max
--Food-Environment Connection
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Education
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/food_nutrition/cwp

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

Planet Health
Grades 6-8
*Evaluated program with mixed results
Interdisciplinary curriculum encouraging students to choose healthy foods, increase physical activity, and decrease inactivity. Includes 63 lessons, “Power Down" campaign to decrease television viewing, FitCheck tool to check fitness level, and worksheets. Gives students skills to make healthy changes, strengthen competence, and foster support.
Sponsor: Harvard University
http://www.humankinetics.com
+Cost

Planning a Healthy Menu Using the Food Pyramid
Grades 3-8
Students use the food pyramid to plan a healthy meal.
Sponsor: Ask ERIC Lesson Plan
One class period
http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans – health – nutrition)
Free

Sports Nutrition for Adolescents
Grades 6-8
Promotes healthful nutrition to students participating in school or community-based athletics.
--Sports Drinks
--Sports Bars and Energy Foods
--Sports Diet
--Protein Power
--Recovery Carbs
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Education
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/food_nutrition

You Are What You Eat
Grades 6-8
Explores how social class might affect personal health, understanding of nutritional needs, and methods for community change.
Source: PBS
Two-four class periods
http://www.pbs.org/teachersource (select Health & Fitness - Middle School - Diet & Nutrition)
Free

Additional Instructional Resources

• Dietary Guidelines for Americans - http://www.cnpp.usda.gov
• Nutrition Calorie Control - http://www.caloriecontrol.org
• School Food Service Staff
• Test Your Nutrition Knowledge - http://www.utexas.edu/courses/ntr311/testknow/testknow.html

Assessment Ideas

The student will:

• record everything eaten and the level of physical activity for two week days and one weekend day, and compare results to the dietary guidelines.
• graph food choices and determine what changes could be made to have healthier choices.
• formulate a healthy diet for three meals a day, including snacks, for two week days and one weekend day, using the dietary guidelines.
• depict, using common household items, appropriate serving sizes for each of the food groups for all family members.

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