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Energize!

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Lesson Plan

Passport to Wellness

Students will use a virtual “Passport to Healthy Living” simulation to plan balanced meals and daily physical activities, applying nutrition and fitness principles to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

This lesson builds critical real-world decision-making by having students apply nutrition and exercise concepts to their own daily routines, fostering healthy habits and deeper understanding of balanced living.

Audience

6th Grade

Time

60 minutes

Approach

Guided digital simulation paired with printable planning tools.

Materials

Prep

Gather and Review Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction and Launch

10 minutes

  • Project the Day Planner Slides.
  • Explain the objectives: plan meals and activities to keep your body energized and balanced.
  • Define success criteria: balanced nutrition, appropriate portion sizes, and 60+ minutes of daily activity.

Step 2

Activate Your Passport

5 minutes

Step 3

Plan Meals and Activities

20 minutes

  • Students complete their passports, selecting breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and daily physical activities.
  • Use nutrient guidelines from slides to balance food groups and calorie needs.
  • Record each choice on the Daily Balance Log Worksheet.

Step 4

Share and Reflect

15 minutes

  • Pair students to exchange passports and compare meal/activity plans.
  • Prompt reflection questions: “Which choices support long-term health?” “Where did you make trade-offs?”
  • Invite volunteers to share insights with the whole class.

Step 5

Assessment and Closure

10 minutes

  • Collect completed Daily Balance Log Worksheets.
  • Summarize key takeaways: importance of variety in nutrition and regular exercise.
  • Assign optional extension: track one day of real meals and activities at home.
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Slide Deck

Energize! Passport to Healthy Living

Welcome to our virtual Passport to Healthy Living simulation.

• Plan balanced meals and snacks
• Choose daily physical activities
• Track your choices in your Passport and on the Daily Balance Log Worksheet

Let’s get energized and make healthy decisions!

Welcome students and introduce the virtual simulation. Emphasize that today they’ll be planners and decision-makers for their own health. Walk through slide quickly so students know what to expect.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

  1. Identify the five major food groups and their role in a balanced diet
  2. Estimate appropriate portion sizes and daily calorie needs for your age
  3. Select and record at least 60 minutes of physical activity
  4. Reflect on how meal and activity choices support long-term health

Read aloud each objective and explain why it matters. Ensure students can restate the objectives in their own words.

The Five Food Groups

• Fruits: apples, berries, oranges
• Vegetables: carrots, spinach, peppers
• Grains: whole wheat bread, brown rice, oatmeal
• Protein: chicken, beans, tofu
• Dairy (or Alternatives): milk, yogurt, cheese

Show the colorful icons for each food group. Ask volunteers to name foods they know in each category.

Portion Sizes & Calorie Guidelines

• Fruits & Vegetables: 2½ cups total/day
• Grains: 6 ounces/day (at least half whole grain)
• Protein: 5 ounces/day
• Dairy: 3 cups/day
• Aim for 1,600–2,200 calories daily, based on gender and activity

Explain rough portion sizes (e.g., fist = 1 cup, palm = 3–4 ounces). Discuss that 6th graders typically need 1,600–2,200 calories per day depending on activity level.

Physical Activity Examples

Light (easy breathing): walking, stretching

Moderate (raises heart rate): bike riding, dancing

Vigorous (hard breathing): soccer, running, jump rope

Aim for 60+ minutes of any mix each day.

Highlight examples of light, moderate, and vigorous activity. Encourage students to think of activities they enjoy.

Simulation Instructions

  1. Log in to the virtual Passport tool on your device.
  2. Select breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks from the food menu.
  3. Choose physical activities and duration.
  4. Record every choice in your Wellness Passport Journey Activity Card.
  5. Transfer entries to your Daily Balance Log Worksheet.

Guide students through the digital simulation interface. Show how to pick meals, record them in the passport, and note activities on the Daily Balance Log Worksheet.

Share & Reflect

• Pair up and exchange Passports.
• Discuss:
– Which choices are the healthiest?
– Where did you make trade-offs?
• Be ready to share one insight with the class.

Remind students of the reflection questions. Explain that sharing helps everyone learn new ideas.

Assessment & Next Steps

• Turn in your Daily Balance Log Worksheet.
• Key takeaways:
– Variety is essential in healthy eating.
– Regular activity keeps you energized.
• Extension: Track one real day of meals and activities at home.

Close the lesson by collecting worksheets and summarizing key takeaways. Mention the optional extension if time allows.

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Activity

Wellness Passport Journey Activity Cards

Use these cards during the Energize! Passport to Healthy Living simulation. Each card guides you through planning meals, snacks, activities, and reflection for one day. Fill in your choices directly on the card, then transfer them to your Daily Balance Log Worksheet.


Breakfast Station

Instructions:
• Build a balanced breakfast including at least three food groups using portion guidelines.

  1. Fruit: ___________________________


  2. Grain: ___________________________


  3. Protein or Dairy: ___________________


  4. Portion notes (e.g., 1 cup fruit, 1 slice toast): ___________________



Lunch Station

Instructions:
• Choose a lunch meal with all five food groups if possible. Record your selections.

  1. Vegetables: ________________________


  2. Grains: _____________________________


  3. Protein: _____________________________


  4. Dairy or Alternative: __________________


  5. Fruit or Extra Veggie: ________________


  6. Portion notes: _________________________



Dinner Station

Instructions:
• Plan a balanced dinner. Include vegetables, protein, and grains. Optionally add fruit or dairy.

  1. Vegetables: ________________________


  2. Protein: _____________________________


  3. Grains: _____________________________


  4. Optional Fruit/Dairy: ________________


  5. Portion notes: _________________________



Snack Station

Instructions:
• Pick two healthy snacks: one for mid-morning and one for late afternoon. Use portion sizes.

  • Mid-Morning Snack: ____________________


  • Late Afternoon Snack: _________________


  • Portion notes: _________________________



Activity Station

Instructions:
• Plan at least 60 minutes of physical activity in total. Mix light, moderate, or vigorous activities.

Time of DayActivityDuration (min)Intensity (L/M/V)
Morning_______________________________
Mid-Day/Noon_______________________________
Afternoon/Evening_______________________________

Reflection Station

Instructions:
Answer the questions below to think about your choices.

  1. Which meal choice do you feel was the healthiest and why?





  2. How did you ensure you reached at least 60 minutes of activity?





  3. If you could change one thing in tomorrow’s plan, what would it be?






After completing each station, transfer your entries to the Daily Balance Log Worksheet for final submission and teacher feedback.

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Worksheet

Daily Balance Log Worksheet

Name: ________________________ Date: _______________

Meals Summary

MealFoods & PortionsFood Groups Included
Breakfast_______________________________

_______________________________

Lunch_______________________________

_______________________________

Dinner_______________________________

_______________________________

Snack 1_______________________________

_______________________________

Snack 2_______________________________

_______________________________

Physical Activities

Plan at least 60 minutes of activity total.

Time of DayActivityDuration (min)Intensity (L/M/V)
Morning_______________________________
Mid-Day/Noon_______________________________
Afternoon/Evening_______________________________

Reflection Questions

  1. Which meal choice was the healthiest and why?





  2. Did you achieve 60 minutes of activity? Explain how you did it:





  3. What would you change in tomorrow’s plan? Why?





Teacher Feedback

Comments and Suggestions:











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