Lesson Plan
Fuel Your Awesome! Lesson Plan
Students will be able to identify the main food groups and understand their importance for a healthy body, and recognize how balanced nutrition contributes to overall well-being.
Understanding basic nutrition is crucial for 6th graders as they are developing lifelong eating habits. This lesson provides foundational knowledge to help them make informed food choices, leading to better health and energy.
Audience
6th Grade
Time
60 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, visual aids, and a hands-on activity.
Materials
Fuel Your Awesome! Slide Deck, Nutrition Power-Up Warm-Up, Food Group Fun Worksheet, Markers or colored pencils, Optional: Healthy snack examples (e.g., apple, carrot sticks), and My Healthy Plate Cool-Down
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Fuel Your Awesome! Slide Deck and become familiar with the content.
- Print copies of the Nutrition Power-Up Warm-Up (1 per student).
- Print copies of the Food Group Fun Worksheet (1 per student).
- Gather markers or colored pencils for students.
- (Optional) Prepare healthy snack examples to show during the lesson.
- Print copies of the My Healthy Plate Cool-Down (1 per student).
Step 1
Warm-Up: Nutrition Power-Up (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Distribute the Nutrition Power-Up Warm-Up to each student.
- Instruct students to complete the warm-up individually.
- After 5 minutes, facilitate a brief class discussion, asking students to share their initial thoughts on nutrition and healthy eating. Use Fuel Your Awesome! Slide Deck Slide 2 to prompt discussion.
Step 2
Introduction to Food Groups (15 minutes)
15 minutes
- Use the Fuel Your Awesome! Slide Deck (Slides 3-8) to introduce the five main food groups: Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Protein, and Dairy.
- Explain the importance of each group and provide examples.
- Encourage student participation by asking questions like: 'What are some of your favorite fruits? How do grains give us energy?'
Step 3
Activity: Food Group Fun Worksheet (20 minutes)
20 minutes
- Distribute the Food Group Fun Worksheet and markers/colored pencils.
- Explain the instructions for the worksheet: students will categorize various food items into their correct food groups and identify why these foods are important.
- Circulate the room to provide support and answer questions.
- After 15 minutes, bring the class back together and review answers as a whole group, using Fuel Your Awesome! Slide Deck Slide 9 to display correct answers if desired, or facilitate a discussion.
Step 4
Discussion: Why Balanced Nutrition Matters (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Lead a class discussion on the importance of balanced nutrition for energy, growth, and overall health. Use Fuel Your Awesome! Slide Deck Slides 10-11.
- Ask students to share examples of healthy meals or snacks they enjoy.
- Emphasize that all foods can fit into a healthy diet in moderation.
Step 5
Cool-Down: My Healthy Plate (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Distribute the My Healthy Plate Cool-Down.
- Instruct students to draw or write about a healthy meal they would create, applying what they learned about food groups.
- Collect cool-downs as an exit ticket.
Slide Deck
Fuel Your Awesome!
How do we give our bodies the energy and nutrients they need to be amazing?
Welcome students and introduce the exciting topic of nutrition. Emphasize that understanding food is about fueling their amazing bodies.
What's Your Fuel IQ?
What comes to mind when you hear 'nutrition' or 'healthy eating'?
Introduce the warm-up activity. Ask students to share their initial thoughts on nutrition. This helps gauge their prior knowledge and gets them thinking.
Meet the Food Groups!
Our bodies need a variety of foods to grow, play, and learn. These foods are organized into five main groups!
Transition into the main content – the food groups. Explain that food groups help us categorize and understand different types of food.
1. Fabulous Fruits
What are they?
Fruits are naturally sweet and colorful!
Why are they important?
They give us vitamins, minerals, and fiber to keep us healthy and energized.
Examples:
Apples, bananas, oranges, berries, grapes, watermelon
Discuss fruits. Highlight their natural sweetness and vitamin content. Ask students for their favorite fruits.
2. Vibrant Vegetables
What are they?
From leafy greens to crunchy carrots, vegetables come in all shapes and colors!
Why are they important?
Packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber to help us grow strong and fight off sickness.
Examples:
Broccoli, spinach, carrots, bell peppers, tomatoes, sweet potatoes
Discuss vegetables. Emphasize variety in color and type. Ask about ways they enjoy eating vegetables.
3. Great Grains
What are they?
Grains come from plants and give us energy!
Why are they important?
They provide carbohydrates for energy and fiber for a healthy digestive system.
Examples:
Whole wheat bread, brown rice, oats, pasta, quinoa
Discuss grains. Explain that grains are our primary source of energy. Differentiate between whole and refined grains.
4. Powerful Proteins
What are they?
Foods that help us build and repair our bodies.
Why are they important?
Essential for building muscles, bones, and healthy blood.
Examples:
Chicken, fish, beans, lentils, eggs, nuts, tofu
Discuss proteins. Explain their role in building and repairing tissues. Ask for examples of plant-based and animal-based proteins.
5. Dynamic Dairy
What are they?
Products made from milk.
Why are they important?
Rich in calcium for strong bones and teeth!
Examples:
Yogurt, milk, cheese, fortified plant-based milks (like almond or soy milk)
Discuss dairy. Highlight calcium for strong bones. Discuss alternatives for those with dairy allergies or preferences.
Time for Food Group Fun!
Now it's your turn to be a food detective!
Work on your Food Group Fun Worksheet to categorize different foods.
Introduce the worksheet activity. Remind students to use what they've learned about the food groups.
Why Balanced Nutrition Matters
Eating from all the food groups helps us:
- Have energy to play and learn
- Grow strong muscles and bones
- Keep our bodies healthy and happy
- Concentrate better in school
Lead a discussion on the importance of balanced nutrition. Connect it back to their daily lives and activities.
Your Healthy Plate
Think about what you've learned today!
How can you create a healthy and delicious meal using foods from different groups?
Summarize the key takeaway: a variety of foods is best. Transition to the cool-down activity.
Warm Up
Nutrition Power-Up Warm-Up
Instructions: Take a few minutes to think about the questions below and write down your answers. There are no right or wrong answers, just your thoughts!
- What does the word "nutrition" mean to you?
- Name three of your favorite foods. Do you think they are considered "healthy"? Why or why not?
- Why do you think it's important to eat different kinds of food?
Worksheet
Food Group Fun Worksheet
Instructions: Look at the food items below. Write them in the correct food group column. Then, choose two foods from each group and explain why they are important for your body!
Food Items: Apple, Chicken, Spinach, Whole Wheat Bread, Milk, Banana, Lentils, Brown Rice, Yogurt, Carrots, Fish, Oats, Cheese, Broccoli, Bell Peppers, Eggs
| Fruits | Vegetables | Grains | Protein | Dairy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Why are these foods important?
Fruits:
- Food Item:
Why it's important: - Food Item:
Why it's important:
Vegetables:
- Food Item:
Why it's important: - Food Item:
Why it's important:
Grains:
- Food Item:
Why it's important: - Food Item:
Why it's important:
Protein:
- Food Item:
Why it's important: - Food Item:
Why it's important:
Dairy:
- Food Item:
Why it's important: - Food Item:
Why it's important:
Cool Down
My Healthy Plate Cool-Down
Instructions: Imagine you are creating the healthiest, most delicious meal ever! In the space below, draw or describe your meal. Make sure to include at least one food item from each of the five food groups you learned about today (Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Protein, Dairy).
My Healthy Plate:
Bonus: Explain why you chose these foods and how they help your body.