Lesson summary

After watching a short video about the impacts of sugar on our bodies, students learn about SugarByHalf’s suggested sugar swaps, replacing high sugar foods with lower sugar foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Students then read a scenario set in an imaginary kingdom and work in groups to use their sugar knowledge to create a low sugar dinner banquet for the prince’s 18th birthday. After considering why it is difficult for people to give up sugar, students design a 3-step sugar reduction strategy for their school.

Learning intentions:

Students understand...

healthy and unhealthy food options
the importance of choice in relation to dietary options
the benefits of working in a team to solve problems.

Success criteria:

Students can...

explain why certain foods are healthy or unhealthy
choose healthy food options over unhealthy food options
complete a teamwork task and present their outcomes.

Lesson guides and printables

Lesson details

Australian Curriculum content description:

HASS, Years 5 & 6

Year 5

Organise and represent data in a range of formats including tables, graphs and large- and small-scale maps, using discipline-appropriate conventions (ACHASSI096)

Year 6

Organise and represent data in a range of formats including tables, graphs and large- and small-scale maps, using discipline-appropriate conventions (ACHASSI124)

HPE, Year 5 & 6

Investigate community resources and ways to seek help about health, safety and wellbeing (ACPPS053)
Plan and practise strategies to promote health, safety and wellbeing (ACPPS054)

Mathematics, Year 5 & 6

Year 5

Describe, continue and create patterns with fractions, decimals and whole numbers resulting from addition and subtraction (ACMNA107)
Identify and describe factors and multiples of whole numbers and use them to solve problems (ACMNA098)
Use estimation and rounding to check the reasonableness of answers to calculations (ACMNA099)

Year 6

Select and apply efficient mental and written strategies and appropriate digital technologies to solve problems involving all four operations with whole numbers (ACMNA123)
Add and subtract decimals, with and without digital technologies, and use estimation and rounding to check the reasonableness of answers (ACMNA128)

Relevant parts of Year 5 achievement standards: Students locate and collect data from a range of primary sources to answer inquiry questions. They sort, record and represent data in different formats, including large-scale and small-scale maps, using basic conventions.

Relevant parts of Year 6 achievement standards: Students locate and collect useful data and information from primary sources. They interpret data to identify, describe and compare distributions, patterns and trends.

This lesson is part of the wider unit of work: SugarByHalf – HASS – Years 5-6

Time required: 80 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate class discussion

To view our NZ Curriculum alignment click here

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Guide to Healthy Eating worksheet

These lessons were developed in partnership with SugarByHalf. SugarByHalf promotes action to reduce sugar-related diseases so that we can live better, stronger and healthier lives

Their message is simple: to reduce added sugar consumption by half. Eating too much added sugar is a key driver of serious health problems including obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, tooth decay, dementia and mental health conditions. A poor diet also puts children behind their peers, affecting brain development, sleep and ability to learn. Poor diet choices ultimately mean that this generation of children could be the first in modern history to live shorter lives than their parents.

Much of the added sugar in our diet comes from the processed foods and drinks we consume. On average, we consume 14-16 teaspoons of added sugar per day. Teenagers consume more than 20 teaspoons per day. The World Health Organisation says we should limit our daily added sugar intake to 6 teaspoons for good health. To put that in perspective, there are 4 grams of sugar in one teaspoon. If something has 20 grams of sugar, that's 5 teaspoons of sugar.

This English lesson focuses on developing the skills and knowledge students need to critically consider messages about food and drink they are exposed to, thereby equipping them to be able to make healthy choices.

Talking about health

Be mindful of students who may experience weight stigma. Some students may be sensitive to conversations around weight, body size or shape. Terms including obesity, weight issues, weight-problem and fat can be stigmatising for some people because they assign blame. It is important to note individual preferences around language vary. Research has shown using the terms ‘weight’, ‘weight gain’, ‘healthy weight’, ‘unhealthy weight’, and ‘high BMI’ are preferred as better alternatives.
Be mindful about how you use the word ‘diet’. We recommend focussing students on the positive impacts of healthy nutrition and healthy lifestyles which help us to have stronger bodies and minds, feel good and sleep well.
Steer students away from any focus on appearances by communicating that appearance does not determine your worth. We recommend the fact sheets from the Butterfly Foundation on body image tips.

Avoid using labels such as obese or diabetic. Refer to people living with diabetes, people living with cancer, people with high BMI etc.

SugarByHalf - The Prince's Banquet

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Summary

Learning intentions:

Students understand...

Success criteria:

Students can...

Lesson Guides and Printables

Lesson Details

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