Lesson summary
Students explore the role of sugar in preventative dental health. They examine the sugar content of common lunchbox items, and where there is a product with high sugar content, they suggest low-or-no sugar alternatives. Students share their ideas with a younger audience through a poster or presentation.
Learning intentions:
Students will...
- recognise that different sources of nutritional information might choose different ways of communicating sugar content
- understand that not all foods that are marketed as ‘healthy’ have low sugar content
- understand why cutting down on sugar will improve dental health.
Success criteria:
Students can...
- identify different types and names for sugar
- analyse food wrappers for sugar content
- make suggestions for alternatives to foods with high sugar content
- communicate messages about sugar and preventative dental health to a younger audience.
Lesson guides and printables
Curriculum links
Select your curriculum from the options below.
Lesson details
Curriculum mapping
Australian curriculum (v9.0) content descriptions - Year 5 & 6 Health and Physical Education
Students learn to:
- investigate different sources and types of health information and how these apply to their own and others’ health choices (AC9HP6P09)
General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking
Syllabus outcomes: PD3-2
Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures
Relevant parts of Year 5 & 6 Health and Physical Education achievement standards:
By the end of Year 6, students can analyse health information to refine strategies to enhance their own and others’ health, safety, relationships and wellbeing.
Resources required
- The ability to share this online infographic with the class
- Food wrappers (see Teacher Content Information)
- Lunchbox Snacks Answer Sheet
- Lunchbox Snacks Worksheet OR take photos of packaging of common foods marketed to children, including the nutrition panel OR the teacher could provide the class with a set of examples
- Materials for making a poster or infographic
- Oral Health fact sheet
- Student Worksheet – one copy per student
- Time to Rethink Sugary Drink? Poster
Skills
This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:
- Communication
- Critical thinking
Additional info
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium - teachers need to gather materials prior to this lesson. They will lead class discussions and oversee independent and group work. Teachers will need to facilitate presentations with younger audiences.
Special thanks to:
This project was created in partnership with Smile Squad and Dental Health Services Victoria. Smile Squad is the Victorian Government free school dental program. It offers free dental care to all Victorian government primary and secondary school students.
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