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Science lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 60 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 · 6 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 butter a good source of? (carbohydrates (for energy) / protein (for growth and repair) / fats (stored energy) / vitamins and minerals (to stay healthy)) → fats (stored energy)Prompt: Is it a starchy food, a meat or bean, an oil, or a fruit or vegetable?
  2. Why do we need to drink water every day? (Water gives us protein. / We do not need water. / Water is a type of fat. / Our bodies are mostly water and we lose some all the time.) → Our bodies are mostly water and we lose some all the time.Prompt: We lose water when we sweat and breathe out.
  3. Which food is a good source of protein (for growth and repair)? (strawberries / eggs / potatoes / butter) → eggsPrompt: Think about which group each food belongs to.

Hook · 6 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 · 12 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 · 12 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 rice, bread and pasta? (vitamins and minerals / fibre (fiber) / carbohydrates / lipids (fats and oils)) → carbohydratesPrompt: Energy, growth, stored energy, small amounts for health, or keeping the gut moving?
  2. A sandwich contains 15 g of carbohydrate, 6 g of protein and 14 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? → 875 kJPrompt: Work out the energy from each nutrient separately.

You do: independent practice · 17 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. A cyclist is training for a long race. Which nutrient should form most of their extra energy? (carbohydrates / fibre (fiber) / vitamins / water) → carbohydratesPrompt: Which nutrient is the body's main fuel?
  2. A bowl of porridge (oatmeal) contains 17 g of carbohydrate, 7 g of protein and 9 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? → 741 kJPrompt: Work out the energy from each nutrient separately.

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/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which nutrient group matches this: calcium for strong bones and teeth?

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

  2. Question 2

    Someone feels tired all the time and blood tests show too few red blood cells. Which mineral might be lacking?

    • A. calcium
    • B. sodium
    • C. iron
    • D. iodine

  3. Question 3

    A sandwich contains 11 g of carbohydrate, 10 g of protein and 12 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

    Which nutrient group matches this: found in wholegrain cereals and vegetables?

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

  5. Question 5

    A teenager eats lots of white bread and sweets but few vegetables, and has constipation. What should they add?

    • A. more sugar
    • B. more fibre (fiber)
    • C. more fat
    • D. more salt

  6. Question 6

    A portion of noodles contains 13 g of carbohydrate, 2 g of protein and 8 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

  7. Question 7

    Which nutrient group matches this: found in butter, nuts and olive oil?

    • A. carbohydrates
    • B. lipids (fats and oils)
    • C. fibre (fiber)
    • D. proteins

  8. Question 8

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

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

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

  1. 1. B. vitamins and minerals

  2. 2. C. iron

  3. 3. 801 kJ

  4. 4. C. fibre (fiber)

  5. 5. B. more fibre (fiber)

  6. 6. 551 kJ

  7. 7. B. lipids (fats and oils)

  8. 8. C. carbohydrates