LESSON 1: DIET AND NUTRITION

Part 1: Minds-On
  • OPTION 1: DOCUMENTARY
"Fault Lines: Fast food, Fat profits: Obesity in America" by Al Jazeera. You can find this video above or on Youtube at: http://goo.gl/zeAoa. The documentary is 23:15min long, hence, only part of it could be used as a minds-on to introduce a topic, and/or it can be watched fully to supplement the lesson/pedagogy to cover the basic content. This documentary will provide students the basics of diet and nutrition and will also engage them in further exploring this particular theme as they connect with it.  

Further, this documentary can be very engaging and can help spark a debate in the classroom. It nicely merges the two different themes of nutrition and disorders. The documentary tries to tackle the challenges of obesity in America. Though, it is American based, it is equally relevant for students in Canada. It discusses visible minorities such African-Americans and Hispanics going through similar crises. Further, it tries to answer questions like: “How did the situation get so out of hand?” “What opportunities do people have to eat healthy?” “Who is responsible for food deserts and processed food in American schools?”

  • OPTION 2: ARTICLE
Article from Daily News Analysis (DNA): "Understanding nutrition facts can help you make healthier choices." This article can be accessed through the following link:  http://goo.gl/pTpVJk. This is an excellent resource if you want to give students information that has daily life importance and application. Students may find it particularly interesting, as they probably have tried reading the label at the back of the product at some point in their life, but didn't understand and/or didn't know how to read it. This article will walk your students through different components involved in critically analyzing a product on a shelf before making a purchasing decision: For example, a) Fine Print; b) The Front Page; c) Marketing Gimmick; d) The  Table; e) Serving Sizes; f) Nutrients; and g) Ingredient List. 
Documentary
article
Part 2: Pedagogy
  • OPTION 1: POWER POINT (PPT)
There are numerous resources available online, which can help you put up a quick and easy PPT. This is an excellent way to cover the content required by the Ministry of Education. Also, instead of you covering the content, you can divide the students into groups, and have them present the slides you've prepared or allow them the class time to come-up with their own ideas of presenting the material assigned (i.e., role play or dramatic act etc.). 

  • OPTION 2: MACRO-NUTRIENTS TUTORIAL
This tutorial is called, "Food A Fact of Life" and can be easily found at: http://goo.gl/3mXhtw. This tutorial is another excellent resource for teachers, because it covers every major points covered in the curriculum document with visual representation of each. It provides a step-by-step guide for students, and before starting a tutorial, it prompts students with survey sample questions to determine their level of understanding. It has an excellent combination of both the auditory and visual representation to accommodate different types of learners.

  • OPTION 3: NUTRITION SHOPPING GAME
Often, students learn best without having a teacher conducting a lesson in a traditional form. Hence, providing an opportunity for students to play a game, simultaneously learning the content is highly recommended. This is also an excellent resource for addressing kinesthetic learners, who prefers engagement with other students. If you deem this game to be insufficient in delivering the content, then you can have this option implemented in combination with any of the two other options outlined.  
 
10.1_nutrition_and_digestion.ppt
File Size: 3032 kb
File Type: ppt
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Part 3: Consolidation
  • OPTION 1: NUTRITION DOMINOES PUZZLE 
Nutrition dominoes puzzle can be interesting way to consolidate your lesson. You can read a series of statements, and you can either have your students put their hand-up or write on a piece of paper the correct terminology associated with each statement. You can distribute the students' response among their peers, and have each other assign a grade value to their peers. However, this mark should only be for your own assessment of students' understanding and comprehension. It will also give students an idea of where they're struggling at a very early stage of the process, which will allow them to seek help, if required. Based on personal experience, I have found students getting a lot of simulation from having an opportunity to  grade their peers (i.e., they remain very vigilant and focused as the answers are announced), and also help reinforce the theory learned during the class. 

  • OPTION 2: CASE STUDY ANALYSIS 
Another possible way to consolidate your lesson is by having your students analyze a case study. Case study analysis is a great way to challenge students to apply what they've learned to a given scenario and provide a list of possible solutions and if possible, solve a problem. Case study analysis targets higher-order thinking of Bloom's taxonomy, and is a great resource for students who likes challenging themselves to the next level.  The case study attached reviews a person's profile, and based on his daily activities, his diet and nutrition is determined. This type of case analysis gives students a hands-on experience they crave for. Students always challenge their teachers by questioning the relevant and applicability of what they're learning. This is a great resource to challenge such viewpoints. 
nutrition_dominoes_oral_quizzing_lesson_1.ppt
File Size: 637 kb
File Type: ppt
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GO TO LESSON 2: STRUCTURE OF DIGESTIVE SYSTEM