Lesson 1: The Six Nutrients

 

Topic: Nutrition Part of: Unit: You Are What You Eat

• Focus: Our bodies need six basic nutrients. Students need to know what nutrients their bodies need in order to make healthy choices about the foods they eat.

Activities | Introduction | Objectives | Resources & Web Sites

Activities

Activity 1A: Reading to the Class: The Magic School Bus

(oral reading, digestion)

Activity 1B: You Are What You Eat

(calcium, mineral, potassium, sodium, fiber, zinc, selenium, manganese, amino acid, nutrient, energy, food, calorie, cholesterol, fat, carbohydrate, sugar, vitamin, protein, water, saturated fat, unsaturated fat)

Activity 1C: Nutrient Research

(nutrient, deficiency, excess, ascorbic acid, thiamine, pyridoxine, nutrition, riboflavin, cobalamine, calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin, potassium, sodium, folic acid)

Activity 1D: Nutrient Presentations

(oral presentation)

Entire Lesson Download (8 pages)

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Introduction

This unit begins with a lesson on the six nutrient groups: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. This lesson includes reading and comprehension activities. A special worksheet is provided for students to learn about vitamins and minerals.

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Objectives

Students will be able to:

• list the six basic nutrients.
• chart food sources for certain nutrients.
• chart how the body uses certain nutrients.

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Resources & Web Sites

My Pyramid for Kids
http://www.mypyramid.gov/kids/

 

USDA's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion - includes the Interactive Healthy Eating Index and several downloadable documents about the food guide pyramid. http://www.usda.gov/cnpp/

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