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Science lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 30 minutes

Food groups, nutrients and what each one does

Human body and health

CCSS NGSS.MS-LS1-7England: KS3 Biology: Nutrition and digestion

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Food groups, nutrients and what each one does.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Food groups and a balanced diet

Leads to: Digestive enzymes and the molecules they make; Test foods for starch, sugar, protein and fat

Materials: Stopwatches, Body diagrams, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Food groups and a balanced diet). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which nutrient is oranges a good source of? (carbohydrates (for energy) / protein (for growth and repair) / fats (stored energy) / vitamins and minerals (to stay healthy)) → vitamins and minerals (to stay healthy)Prompt: Is it a starchy food, a meat or bean, an oil, or a fruit or vegetable?
  2. Why should we eat only small amounts of sugary foods? (Too much sugar can harm teeth and health. / Sugar makes bones stronger. / Sugar is a protein. / Sugar has no energy.) → Too much sugar can harm teeth and health.Prompt: Think about what a dentist would say.
  3. Which food is a good source of protein (for growth and repair)? (carrots / fish / butter / bread) → fishPrompt: Think about which group each food belongs to.

Hook · 3 min

  • Ask everyone to find their pulse, then jump for 30 seconds and find it again.
  • Share the objective: Food groups, nutrients and what each one does. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which nutrient group matches this: vitamin C for healthy skin and gums?
  • Step 1: Vitamins and minerals are needed in small amounts to stay healthy.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: vitamins and minerals
  • Answer: vitamins and minerals
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Which nutrient group matches this: found in beans, eggs and fish? (lipids (fats and oils) / carbohydrates / proteins / vitamins and minerals) → proteinsPrompt: Energy, growth, stored energy, small amounts for health, or keeping the gut moving?
  2. A sandwich contains 25 g of carbohydrate, 2 g of protein and 6 g of fat. Carbohydrate and protein each release 17 kJ per gram; fat releases 37 kJ per gram. How much energy does it provide, in kJ? → 681 kJPrompt: Work out the energy from each nutrient separately.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Which nutrient group matches this: store energy and keep the body warm? (carbohydrates / proteins / lipids (fats and oils) / vitamins and minerals) → lipids (fats and oils)Prompt: Energy, growth, stored energy, small amounts for health, or keeping the gut moving?
  2. Someone feels tired all the time and blood tests show too few red blood cells. Which mineral might be lacking? (iodine / calcium / sodium / iron) → ironPrompt: This mineral is part of haemoglobin (hemoglobin).

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Food groups and a balanced diet.
  • Use concrete materials: stopwatches.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Digestive enzymes and the molecules they make; Test foods for starch, sugar, protein and fat.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-6.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Food groups, nutrients and what each one does

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which nutrient group matches this: the body's main source of energy?

    • A. vitamins and minerals
    • B. proteins
    • C. lipids (fats and oils)
    • D. carbohydrates

  2. Question 2

    A cyclist is training for a long race. Which nutrient should form most of their extra energy?

    • A. carbohydrates
    • B. water
    • C. vitamins
    • D. fibre (fiber)

  3. Question 3

    A portion of noodles contains 18 g of carbohydrate, 9 g of protein and 13 g of fat. Carbohydrate and protein each release 17 kJ per gram; fat releases 37 kJ per gram. How much energy does it provide, in kJ?

    AnswerkJ

  4. Question 4

    A cereal bar contains 10 g of carbohydrate, 2 g of protein and 1 g of fat. Carbohydrate and protein each release 17 kJ per gram; fat releases 37 kJ per gram. How much energy does it provide, in kJ?

    AnswerkJ

  5. Question 5

    Which nutrient group matches this: found in beans, eggs and fish?

    • A. fibre (fiber)
    • B. vitamins and minerals
    • C. carbohydrates
    • D. proteins

  6. Question 6

    A cereal bar contains 14 g of carbohydrate, 6 g of protein and 11 g of fat. Carbohydrate and protein each release 17 kJ per gram; fat releases 37 kJ per gram. How much energy does it provide, in kJ?

    AnswerkJ

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Answer key: Food groups, nutrients and what each one does

  1. 1. D. carbohydrates

  2. 2. A. carbohydrates

  3. 3. 940 kJ

  4. 4. 241 kJ

  5. 5. D. proteins

  6. 6. 747 kJ