Fuel Right

Lee Archuleta

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Macronutrient Mission

Students will identify and classify foods they consume into proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, then track and calculate their daily intake to see how each macronutrient fuels physical activity.

Understanding macronutrients empowers students to make healthier food choices and recognize how proteins, carbs, and fats provide energy for growth and exercise, supporting lifelong wellness.

Audience

8th Grade

Time

35 minutes

Approach

Hands-on tracking with visuals and guided analysis

Materials

Fuel Your Body Presentation, - Fuel Right Worksheet, - Whiteboard or Chart Paper, and - Markers

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Review Fuel Your Body Presentation slides, ensuring clarity on protein, carbohydrate, and fat definitions and functions.
Print one copy of the Fuel Right Worksheet per student.
Prepare whiteboard or chart paper space for class demonstration and group responses.
Arrange classroom seating to facilitate think-pair-share discussions.

Step 1

Hook: What Fuels You?

5 minutes

Display slide asking “What did you eat today?” and list student responses on the board.
Prompt: “How do you think these foods give you energy?”
Introduce macronutrients as the building blocks that fuel our bodies.

Step 2

Direct Instruction

7 minutes

Present definitions and functions of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats via slides.
Show visual examples of common foods high in each macronutrient.
Use the 4-1-9 rule to explain calories per gram: carbs & proteins = 4 kcal, fats = 9 kcal.
Check for understanding with quick thumbs-up/thumbs-down polls.

Step 3

Guided Practice: Sample Tracking

8 minutes

Project a sample day’s meals on the board.
As a class, identify which foods are proteins, carbs, or fats.
Model filling in one row of the Fuel Right Worksheet, calculating grams and calories.
Encourage students to ask clarifying questions (Tier 1 scaffolding).

Step 4

Independent Activity: Personal Tracking

10 minutes

Students complete their own Fuel Right Worksheet using yesterday’s food intake or a provided menu.
They categorize each item, record estimated grams, and compute calorie contributions.
Teacher circulates to support learners, using prompts and guiding questions.

Step 5

Assessment & Closure

5 minutes

Think-pair-share: Students name one macronutrient they tracked and how it supports activity.
Exit Ticket: On a sticky note, write one new insight about how your chosen macronutrient fuels your body.
Collect exit tickets to inform future instruction.

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Slide Deck

Fuel Your Body: How Food Powers You

In this lesson, we'll explore proteins, carbohydrates, and fats and discover how they fuel our bodies for daily activities and exercise.

Welcome students and introduce the lesson. Explain that today they’ll learn how proteins, carbohydrates, and fats fuel their bodies for everyday activities and exercise.

What Did You Eat Today?

Think about everything you ate yesterday.

• Share one item you remember with the class.

Ask students to think silently for 30 seconds, then share one food they ate yesterday. List responses on the board.

Macronutrients: Proteins, Carbs & Fats

• Proteins: Build and repair tissues
• Carbohydrates: Main energy source
• Fats: Concentrated energy storage and support cell health

Define each macronutrient. Use thumbs-up/thumbs-down to check understanding after each definition.

Protein: The Building Block

Examples of Protein-Rich Foods:
• Chicken
• Eggs
• Beans
• Greek Yogurt
• Tofu

Show pictures of these protein foods or pass around sample labels. Emphasize protein’s role in muscle growth and repair.

Carbohydrates: Fuel for Energy

Examples of Carbohydrate-Rich Foods:
• Bread
• Rice
• Pasta
• Fruits
• Vegetables

Distinguish between simple and complex carbs. Ask students to name one fruit and one grain that are carbs.

Fats: Dense Energy Source

Examples of Fat-Rich Foods:
• Avocado
• Nuts
• Olive Oil
• Butter
• Cheese

Discuss healthy vs. less healthy fats. Invite students to suggest cooking oils they’ve seen at home.

The 4-1-9 Rule

• 1g Protein = 4 kcal
• 1g Carbs = 4 kcal
• 1g Fat = 9 kcal

Try it:
10g Carbs → 10×4 = 40 kcal
5g Fat → 5×9 = 45 kcal

Walk through the calculations step by step. Model with sample servings on the board.

Quick Check & Next Steps

Which macronutrient provides 9 kcal per gram?
Name one protein-rich food and one fat-rich food.

Grab your Fuel Right Worksheet to start tracking!

Have students answer the quick-check verbally or with thumbs-up/thumbs-down. Then distribute worksheets.

Worksheet

Fuel Right Worksheet

Objective: Students will track and calculate their intake of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats to see how these macronutrients fuel physical activity.

Materials: Refer to Fuel Your Body Presentation for definitions and examples before completing this worksheet.

Instructions

List at least five foods you consumed yesterday (or from the provided menu).
For each food item, identify its primary macronutrient (Protein, Carbohydrate, or Fat).
Estimate the grams (g) of that macronutrient in your serving.
Calculate the calories contributed by that macronutrient (use 1 g protein = 4 kcal; 1 g carb = 4 kcal; 1 g fat = 9 kcal).
Show your calculations in the table below.

Food Item	Macronutrient Type	Grams (g)	Calories (kcal)	Calculation (g × kcal/g)
1. ____________________	__________________	________	________	___________________________
2. ____________________	__________________	________	________	___________________________
3. ____________________	__________________	________	________	___________________________
4. ____________________	__________________	________	________	___________________________
5. ____________________	__________________	________	________	___________________________

Reflection Questions

Which macronutrient did you consume the most of? How might this fuel your physical activity?
Which food item was easiest to categorize and calculate, and why?
What surprised you most about your macronutrient intake?

Exit Ticket

On a sticky note, write one new insight about how your chosen macronutrient helps power your body during exercise or daily activities.