Grade Level:
6-9
Desired Number of Participants (if collaboration with other classes):
Groups of 4
Project Timeline:
1 to 2 weeks.
Curriculum Subject Area(s):
Health, science, PE, Math
Objectives of Project:
Goal/Purpose: Students will investigate exercise and nutritional habits
that enhance and maintain health and well-being.
Food choices:
Materials/Resources: (List Both on-line and off-line materials/resources needed)
On-line:
Food Composition Data from the Nutrient Data Laboratory at the United
States Department of Agriculture.
Diet & Weight Loss / Fitness Home Page has links to weight loss,
diet, and fitness links all over the web.
Arizona Health Sciences Library Nutrition Page contains information
about food, health, exercise, vitamins, disease, and contains many other
academic resources.
Bonfire of the Calories calculates the amount of calories burned while
exercising.
Fast Food Facts - Interactive Food Finder has data on the nutritional
value of popular fast food items.
Nutrition Home Page from the libraries of College of St. Benedict's
and St.John's University Home Arts -
The Body Beautiful has articles on how to lose weight and keep it off.
Wellness: selected fitness, exercise, nutrition, food and recipe resources
from Boise State University. Health and
Well-Being contains sites screened for factual, reliable and noncommercial
information to help youth live a healthy and positive lifestyle.
Candy USA: all you ever wanted to know about candy!
Off-Line:
Word processor and printer, spreadsheet software
Procedure(Step by step instructions for developing the project):
The Task
Choose one of the people below and develop a menu and exercise program
to improve their overall health. You must:
· Find the appropriate goal weight for the person you have chosen.
· Develop a weekly exercise program that will fit into their
lifestyle. *
· Develop a one week menu incorporating proper nutritional habits.
*
· Provide helpful survival tips related to your client's habits
and lifestyle. *
· Give your client clear explanations for the recommendations
you give them.
Your clients:
John is 45 years-old, 5' 10" tall and weighs 220 pounds. John's job
with an insurance company requires a lot of time doing paperwork and talking
on the telephone. He leads a very sedentary lifestyle away from work. John
lives alone and isn't much of a cook so he eats out most of the time with
Chinese cuisine making up a large part of his diet. John hasn't experienced
any major health problems but feels fatigued and un down much of the time,
and isn't satisfied with what he sees in the mirror.
Michelle is a 17 year-old high school junior. She stands 5' 6" tall
and weighs 135 pounds. Michelle is involved in Key Club and sings in the
school choir. Michelle spends her evening hours talking on the phone, watching
TV and/or hanging out with her friends. Michelle 's family isn't big on
family meals so Michelle is responsible for preparing most of her own meals.
Michelle doesn't eat breakfast, eats fast food a lot, and is on a first-name
basis with the fine folks at Taco Bell. Michelle feels her body may still
be growing but is concerned with the fact that some of her clothes are
getting tight and would like to drop a few pounds.
Kim is a 34 year-old clothing salesperson and the mother of three children
ages 14, 11, and 8. Being in retail, her work hours vary from day to day.
She works either from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or from 12:00 p.m.
to 8:00p.m. Kim is 5' 5" and weighs 130 pounds. Much of her leisure
time is spent with her children and their activities. She prepares an evening
family meal when she is not working (they're vegetarian) and plans a meal
for her husband to prepare when she is working. Kim has attempted to establish
a regular exercise routine in the past but has found little success. Her
exercise bike and thigh master are gathering dust in the garage.
Brian is a 16 year-old high school sophomore. He stands 6 feet 2 inches
tall and weighs 148 pounds. Brian is extremely active, playing basketball
during much of his after school time, except in the spring when he runs
track. Brian eats mostly donuts for breakfast, school food or fast food
at lunch, whatever his mom prepares for him in the evening, and many candy
bars, chips and sodas in between. Brian would like to add some muscle to
his bones but, even though he eats everything in sight, he can't seem to
gain any weight.
The Process
1. Choose one client to prepare a complete program for. Start
a project journal to use for notetaking, exploring ideas, brainstorming,
etc.
2. Start by identifying the appropriate goal weight for this
person. Determine if he/she needs to lose, maintain, or gain weight and
how much. Record your reasoning in your project journal.
3. Identify problem characteristics of his/her lifestyle that
you need to suggest changing or need to account for when designing his/her
program.
4. Design an exercise program for your client. Remember to consider
the time and resources (access to equipment, money, etc.) he/she has available
and his/her likely comfort level with the activities. Record your reasoning
in your project journal.
5. Develop one week's menu for your client. Use the food pyramid
to nutritionally balance the menu. Set maximum amounts for daily calories
consumed and grams of fat consumed. Include between-meal snacks and remember
to consider your client's lifestyle when designing meals - preparation
time, access to ingredients, etc. Record your reasoning in your project
journal.
6. Use your project journal to create a rationale for the program.
Explain the decisions you made in determining the goal weight, menu and
appropriate exercises. This helps the client understand how your program
is uniquely designed with their needs and lifestyle in mind.
7. Prepare a "survival tips" section for the client's portfolio
providing helpful hints on how to succeed with your program. Consider his/her
current lifestyle and habits when determining what advice would be most
helpful.
8. Prepare a portfolio for your client that includes all components:
brief goal description
exercise program
menu
rationale
survival tips
Extensions to other subject areas:
Language Arts
Student Evaluation Method:
The final portfolio will be evaluated for content, originality and
accuracy.
Project Evaluation