Summary
These are some of the questions students will answer through studying
this unit. This lesson is very important as many Americans continue
to expand their waistlines and heart disease and other nutritionally-related
diseases continue to rise. Attitudes surrounding nutrition and
exercise are formed during a students school experience. This lesson
has the impact to make positive change in the perspectives of students
at an earlier age and has the potential to continue into adulthood.
Through this lesson, students will learn about nutrition through
an educational video, analyze their own health and exercise choices
and consider alternatives, and write a five-paragraph response
explaining their transformed views about nutrition and good health.
ALL materials
are provided, herein. This unit may be taught on the internet or
in a classroom environment without access to computers. For schools
with access to technology, students may download documents to format
in a more professional format. This project has the possibibility
to influence not only the student, but also families and friends,
by extension determined by how the student is able to promote the
new knowledge s/he has gained.
The importance
of good health is a serious issue and because it is presented in
a non-fiction, documentary-like, students are forced to examine
their own healthful choices. This site is designed to provide a
clear purpose for learning, a step-by-step overview of instruction,
and provide resources for extended learning.
Click HERE to
view the standards-based objectives of this unit.
Time Allocation
Actual instructional time for this unit will comprise about one week,
based on 50-minute class sessions. Teachers
who would like to integrate this unit into their classroom, must first
start by distributing the food and exercise charts to students, so
they may accurately analyze their habits for one week as a precursor
to the lesson. It is suggested that teacher give these materials to
students one week prior to teaching this unit. Then, teachers will
need to rent and show the Super Size Me video, approximately
___ minutes. After that, teachers will need to determine for themselves
the length of the drafting process. Not only GAT students will be intrigued
by this unit, and so extension
activities or additional research articles for
students to consider were provided for additional learning. Some teachers
will want to include this into lesson design, thus lengthening the
overall lesson duration.
Technology Use
English and Health teachers will really enjoy this invaluable lesson
because it provides cross-curricular integration and the technology
engages students. This unit was designed for schools with varying degrees
of access to technology implements. The only basic classroom requirements
are a television with vcr or dvd player. Teachers must have the skill
to be able to use this technology, as well as print the handouts found
herein for students without access to computers. Classrooms equipped
with computers already, will need the capability to download the student
handouts or have already provided the files on the student servers.
Further extensions of this initial design is articulated on the Extension
Activities page.