Diet - Lesson Plan

This comprehensive lesson plan, created by The Primary Science Advisory Service Ltd, is tailored for Year 6 Biology students with a focus on diet and its impact on the human body. The lesson is structured to enhance students' scientific skills, such as Planning Investigations, Presenting and Analysing Data, and Evaluation of Investigations. Pupils are encouraged to observe patterns, classify food groups, and engage in comparative and fair testing. The National Curriculum outcomes targeted include understanding the effects of diet, exercise, drugs, and lifestyle on bodily functions. Students are expected to explain the consequences of overeating, identify unhealthy food groups, and list essential food groups for maintaining health. The lesson builds on previous knowledge from early years through to Year 6, covering the basic parts of the human body, the importance of exercise and a balanced diet, as well as the digestive and circulatory systems.

The lesson involves several hands-on activities, including a practical experiment to measure the calorie content in various snacks by burning them and observing the change in water temperature. Health and safety considerations are paramount, particularly when handling fire and potential allergens. Misconceptions such as 'unlimited exercise allows you to eat whatever you want' and 'unlimited fruit consumption has no negative effects' are addressed. The lesson also includes cross-curricular links, encouraging students to keep a food diary, use maths to graph results, and explore dietary habits globally. Influential scientists such as Antoine and Marianne Lavoisier, James Lind, Rovenia Brock, and Susan Powter are highlighted, and the equipment needed for the activities is listed. The lesson concludes with a plenary session where pupils reflect on their learning and assess their understanding of the relationship between diet and health.