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Science lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 60 minutes

Food groups and a balanced diet

Human body and health

CCSS NGSS.5-PS3-1England: KS1 Y2 Animals, including humansEngland: KS2 Y3 Animals, including humans

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Food groups and a balanced diet.

  • 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: Body parts and the five senses

Leads to: The digestive system; Nutrients and the jobs they do in your body; Food groups, nutrients and what each one does

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 (Body parts and the five senses). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which body part do you use for feeling a prickly cactus? (ears / eyes / skin / tongue) → skinPrompt: Is it about seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting or touching?
  2. Which of these do you do with your tongue? (tasting honey / hearing a drum / seeing a rainbow / feeling a cold ice cube) → tasting honeyPrompt: Act out each one. Which body part are you using?
  3. Our senses: which statement is true? (Each part of the tongue can only taste one flavour. / Only fingers can feel touch. / We hear with our eyes. / We have five main senses.) → We have five main senses.Prompt: Think about what each body part does.

Hook · 6 min

  • Ask everyone to find their pulse, then jump for 30 seconds and find it again.
  • Share the objective: Food groups and a balanced diet. 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 is olive oil a good source of?
  • Step 1: Butter and oils are mostly fat, a store of energy; we need only small amounts.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: fats (stored energy)
  • Answer: fats (stored energy)
  • 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 is lentils a good source of? (carbohydrates (for energy) / protein (for growth and repair) / fats (stored energy) / vitamins and minerals (to stay healthy)) → protein (for growth and repair)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? (Sugar makes bones stronger. / Sugar is a protein. / Sugar has no energy. / Too much sugar can harm teeth and health.) → Too much sugar can harm teeth and health.Prompt: Think about what a dentist would say.

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. Which nutrient is spinach 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. Which food is a good source of vitamins and minerals (to stay healthy)? (eggs / beans / broccoli / pasta) → broccoliPrompt: Think about which group each food belongs to.

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: Body parts and the five senses.
  • 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: The digestive system; Nutrients and the jobs they do in your body; Food groups, nutrients and what each one does.
  • 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-2.

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

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Food groups and a balanced diet

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Why do we need fibre?

    • A. to keep our digestive system working well
    • B. to see in the dark
    • C. to build muscles
    • D. to grow hair

  2. Question 2

    Which nutrient is carrots a good source of?

    • A. carbohydrates (for energy)
    • B. protein (for growth and repair)
    • C. fats (stored energy)
    • D. vitamins and minerals (to stay healthy)

  3. Question 3

    Which food is a good source of carbohydrates (for energy)?

    • A. spinach
    • B. lentils
    • C. chicken
    • D. porridge oats

  4. Question 4

    Why should we eat only small amounts of sugary foods?

    • A. Too much sugar can harm teeth and health.
    • B. Sugar is a protein.
    • C. Sugar makes bones stronger.
    • D. Sugar has no energy.

  5. Question 5

    Which nutrient is chicken a good source of?

    • A. carbohydrates (for energy)
    • B. protein (for growth and repair)
    • C. fats (stored energy)
    • D. vitamins and minerals (to stay healthy)

  6. Question 6

    Why do we need to drink water every day?

    • A. We do not need water.
    • B. Water is a type of fat.
    • C. Water gives us protein.
    • D. Our bodies are mostly water and we lose some all the time.

  7. Question 7

    Which nutrient is potatoes a good source of?

    • A. carbohydrates (for energy)
    • B. protein (for growth and repair)
    • C. fats (stored energy)
    • D. vitamins and minerals (to stay healthy)

  8. Question 8

    Which food is a good source of protein (for growth and repair)?

    • A. rice
    • B. spinach
    • C. eggs
    • D. strawberries

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Answer key: Food groups and a balanced diet

  1. 1. A. to keep our digestive system working well

  2. 2. D. vitamins and minerals (to stay healthy)

  3. 3. D. porridge oats

  4. 4. A. Too much sugar can harm teeth and health.

  5. 5. B. protein (for growth and repair)

  6. 6. D. Our bodies are mostly water and we lose some all the time.

  7. 7. A. carbohydrates (for energy)

  8. 8. C. eggs