Sugar Impact: Uncover Hidden Sugars and Their Effects

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Sugar Impact: Uncover Hidden Sugars and Their Effects

Grade 9Physical EducationHealth5 days

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This project delves into the impact of sugar consumption on teenagers' physical and emotional well-being. Students investigate hidden sugars in everyday foods, analyze marketing tactics used in advertising, and track their own sugar intake to identify correlations with their energy levels and mood. The project culminates in students setting personal health goals and educating their peers about sugar-related health conditions, promoting informed decision-making and healthier lifestyles. Through a variety of activities, students will develop strategies to navigate food choices and reduce their sugar intake.

Sugar ConsumptionTeen HealthFood ChoicesMarketing InfluenceHealth EducationNutritional InformationGoal Setting

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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.In what ways does sugar consumption impact teenagers' physical and emotional well-being, and what informed strategies can they develop to navigate food choices for a healthier lifestyle?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.

How does sugar affect our bodies and minds?
What are the hidden sugars in our daily diet?
How do our food choices affect our overall health and well-being?
How can we make informed decisions about sugar consumption to lead healthier lives?
What strategies can we use to reduce our sugar intake and maintain a balanced diet?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:

Investigate the sugar content in everyday food items.
Analyze the impact of sugar consumption on physical health.
Analyze the impact of sugar consumption on emotional well-being.
Develop strategies to navigate food choices for a healthier lifestyle.
Use goal-setting skills to enhance health.
Understand how dietary habits influence energy levels, body composition, and physical performance.
Evaluate the nutritional information on food labels.
Assess how sugar affects health and make informed food choices.
Identify how excess sugar intake can affect physical stamina, mood, and motivation for physical activity.
Analyze how culture, media, and marketing influence food choices, especially sugar-laden products.
Comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health

Teacher-Provided Standards

Standard 1

Primary

Students will comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health.Reason: Directly aligns with the project's focus on understanding the health impacts of sugar and promoting healthier choices.

Standard 6

Primary

Students will demonstrate the ability to use goal-setting skills to enhance health.Reason: Directly relevant to the project's aim to equip students with strategies for healthier lifestyles.

N/A

Primary

Analyze how culture, media, and marketing influence food choices, especially sugar-laden products.Reason: This is a core component of understanding the influences on sugar consumption.

N/A

Primary

Evaluate the nutritional information on food labels and credible sources on dietary sugar impacts.Reason: Essential for making informed decisions about sugar consumption.

N/A

Primary

Use critical thinking to assess how sugar affects health and make informed food choices.Reason: Fundamental to the project's goals of promoting health literacy and informed decision-making.

N/A

Primary

Understand how dietary habits (e.g., sugar consumption) influence energy levels, body composition, and physical performance.Reason: Addresses the direct impact of sugar on physical well-being, a key focus of the project.

N/A

Primary

Identify how excess sugar intake can affect physical stamina, mood, and motivation for physical activity.Reason: Highlights the effects of sugar on aspects of well-being relevant to teenagers.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

The 'Healthy' Hoax: Unmasking Sugar in Disguise

Students receive a 'mystery box' filled with seemingly healthy snacks and drinks marketed towards teenagers. In small groups, they analyze the nutrition labels, calculate the total sugar content, and debate whether the products live up to their 'healthy' claims. This activity promotes critical thinking about marketing tactics and empowers students to become savvy consumers.

Athlete's Advantage: The Sugar Impact

The class watches a short, compelling video featuring athletes discussing the impact of sugar on their performance, energy levels, and overall health. This is followed by a Q&A session with a local nutritionist or trainer, who shares insights on making informed dietary choices for optimal physical performance. This will pique their interest in the effects of sugar and encourage them to make healthy choices.

Sugar Deception: The Blind Taste Test

Students participate in a blind taste test of various beverages and snacks, ranking them by perceived sweetness. Afterwards, they analyze the actual sugar content of each item, revealing discrepancies between taste perception and actual sugar levels. This sparks inquiry into how our senses can be deceived and the potential health implications of relying solely on taste to judge food.

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Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.

Activity 1

Marketing Manipulation: Unmasking Sugar Ads

Students create a collection of advertisements for sugary products (physical ads, social media posts, etc.). They then deconstruct these ads, identifying the persuasive techniques used (e.g., celebrity endorsements, emotional appeals, misleading health claims).

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Collect 3-5 different advertisements for sugary products from various sources (magazines, websites, social media).

2. For each ad, identify the target audience and the persuasive techniques used (e.g., bandwagon, celebrity endorsement, emotional appeal, health halo).

3. Research the accuracy of any health claims made in the ads.

4. Write a reflection piece on how these marketing tactics might influence teenagers' food choices and overall consumption of sugary products.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA 'Deconstructed Ad' portfolio with analyzed advertisements and a reflection piece on the marketing tactics used and their potential impact on consumer choices.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the influence of marketing on food choices, aligning with the standard to analyze the impact of culture, media, and marketing on food choices, especially sugar-laden products.

Activity 2

Sugar Diary: Tracking the Sweet Impact

Students track their sugar intake, energy levels, mood, and physical activity for one week. They will record the food/drinks consumed, the amount of sugar (using nutrition labels), their perceived energy levels throughout the day, any mood changes, and the duration/intensity of their physical activity.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Create a daily log to record your food and drink intake, noting the sugar content (in grams) of each item using nutrition labels.

2. Throughout the day, monitor and record your energy levels (e.g., using a scale of 1-5, with 1 being very low and 5 being very high) and any significant mood changes.

3. Record the type, duration, and intensity of any physical activity you engage in each day.

4. At the end of the week, create a chart summarizing your daily sugar intake, average energy levels, mood patterns, and physical activity levels.

5. Analyze your data to identify any correlations between your sugar intake and your physical and emotional states. For example, do you notice a drop in energy levels after consuming a sugary snack? Does your mood change after drinking a sugary beverage?

6. Based on your findings, develop a personal action plan with specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for reducing your sugar intake and improving your overall health.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA 'Sugar Diary' portfolio with daily entries, a sugar intake chart, a summary of correlations between sugar intake and their physical/emotional states, and a personal action plan for healthier choices.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the impact of sugar on physical and emotional well-being, aligning with the standards to understand how dietary habits influence energy levels, body composition, and physical performance and to identify how excess sugar intake can affect physical stamina, mood, and motivation for physical activity.

Activity 3

Goal Getter: Setting Sweet Limits

Students will use the information gathered to set personal health goals related to sugar consumption. They will develop a SMART goal (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) related to reducing their sugar intake or making healthier food choices. They will then track their progress towards this goal over two weeks.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Based on what you've learned from the previous activities, identify one specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goal related to reducing your sugar intake or making healthier food choices. For example, 'I will reduce my intake of sugary drinks to no more than one per week for the next two weeks.'

2. Create a progress tracker to monitor your daily or weekly progress towards your SMART goal.

3. Record any challenges you encounter while working towards your goal and the strategies you use to overcome them.

4. At the end of the two weeks, reflect on your successes and challenges, and evaluate the impact of your goal on your overall health and well-being.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA 'Goal Getter' portfolio including their SMART goal statement, a two-week progress tracker, a reflection on their challenges and successes, and an evaluation of their goal's impact on their overall health.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsFocuses on goal-setting skills and making informed food choices, aligning with the standard to demonstrate the ability to use goal-setting skills to enhance health and to use critical thinking to assess how sugar affects health and make informed food choices.

Activity 4

Expert Educator: Sugar and Disease

Students will research a specific health condition linked to high sugar consumption (e.g., type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity). They will create an informational pamphlet, presentation, or video to educate their peers about the condition, its causes, its prevention, and the role of sugar in its development.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Choose a specific health condition that is linked to high sugar consumption (e.g., type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease).

2. Research the causes, symptoms, prevention strategies, and the role of sugar in the development of your chosen health condition, using credible sources.

3. Create an informational pamphlet, presentation, or video that educates your peers about the condition.

4. Include accurate information, visuals (e.g., diagrams, charts, images), and actionable advice for prevention.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityAn 'Expert Educator' portfolio with a well-researched informational pamphlet/presentation/video on a sugar-related health condition, including accurate information, visuals, and actionable advice for prevention.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsPromotes understanding of health concepts and critical thinking, aligning with the standard for students to comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health and to use critical thinking to assess how sugar affects health and make informed food choices.

Activity 5

Sugar Sleuth: Decoding Food Labels

Students will select a variety of packaged foods and drinks commonly consumed. They will then analyze the nutrition labels, focusing on sugar content, serving sizes, and the ingredient list. They will calculate the total sugar consumed per serving and compare it to recommended daily limits.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Select 5-7 packaged food items and drinks that you commonly consume or find in your household.

2. Carefully examine the nutrition labels of each item, paying close attention to serving size, total sugar content (in grams), and added sugars.

3. Calculate the total sugar you would consume if you ate or drank the recommended serving size. Convert grams of sugar to teaspoons (4 grams = 1 teaspoon).

4. Compare your calculated sugar intake to the recommended daily limits for added sugars (American Heart Association recommends no more than 6 teaspoons per day for women and 9 teaspoons per day for men).

5. Write a summary of your findings, noting which products contribute the most sugar to your diet and whether you are exceeding the recommended daily limits.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed 'Sugar Sleuth' report, including analyzed food labels, sugar content calculations, and a summary of findings related to exceeding recommended daily limits.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsFocuses on evaluating nutritional information, directly aligning with the standard to evaluate the nutritional information on food labels and credible sources on dietary sugar impacts.

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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Sugar Impact Portfolio Rubric

Category 1

Marketing Manipulation: Unmasking Sugar Ads

Focuses on the student's ability to deconstruct advertisements for sugary products, research the accuracy of health claims, and reflect on the influence of marketing on teenagers' food choices.

Criterion 1

Ad Deconstruction

Effectively identifies persuasive techniques used in advertisements (e.g., bandwagon, celebrity endorsement, emotional appeal, health halo).

Exemplary

4 Points

Accurately identifies and analyzes a wide range of persuasive techniques, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of marketing strategies.

Proficient

3 Points

Identifies and analyzes several persuasive techniques effectively, showing a thorough understanding of marketing strategies.

Developing

2 Points

Identifies and analyzes some persuasive techniques, but with limited depth or accuracy.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to identify and analyze persuasive techniques in advertisements.

Criterion 2

Accuracy of Health Claims

Thoroughness and accuracy of research on health claims made in advertisements.

Exemplary

4 Points

Conducts comprehensive research using credible sources to verify or refute health claims, demonstrating excellent research skills and attention to detail.

Proficient

3 Points

Conducts thorough research using mostly credible sources to verify or refute health claims, demonstrating solid research skills.

Developing

2 Points

Conducts basic research with some credible sources, but may have gaps in accuracy or depth.

Beginning

1 Points

Conducts minimal research and struggles to use credible sources to verify or refute health claims.

Criterion 3

Reflection Quality

Insightfulness and depth of reflection on how marketing tactics influence teenagers' food choices.

Exemplary

4 Points

Provides a highly insightful and nuanced reflection, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of the impact of marketing on teenagers' food choices and overall consumption.

Proficient

3 Points

Provides a thoughtful and clear reflection, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the impact of marketing on teenagers' food choices.

Developing

2 Points

Provides a basic reflection with some understanding of the impact of marketing on teenagers' food choices, but lacks depth.

Beginning

1 Points

Provides a superficial reflection with limited understanding of the impact of marketing on teenagers' food choices.

Category 2

Sugar Diary: Tracking the Sweet Impact

Focuses on the student's ability to track their sugar intake, analyze the impact on their physical and emotional states, and develop a personal action plan for healthier choices.

Criterion 1

Diary Accuracy

Completeness and accuracy of the sugar diary, including food/drink intake, sugar content, energy levels, mood patterns, and physical activity.

Exemplary

4 Points

Maintains a meticulous and accurate sugar diary with detailed entries, demonstrating exceptional attention to detail and thoroughness.

Proficient

3 Points

Maintains a complete and accurate sugar diary with clear entries, demonstrating thoroughness and attention to detail.

Developing

2 Points

Maintains a mostly complete sugar diary with some inaccuracies or omissions.

Beginning

1 Points

Maintains an incomplete sugar diary with significant inaccuracies or omissions.

Criterion 2

Data Analysis

Clarity and insightfulness of the analysis identifying correlations between sugar intake and physical/emotional states.

Exemplary

4 Points

Provides a highly insightful and well-supported analysis, clearly identifying strong correlations between sugar intake and physical/emotional states.

Proficient

3 Points

Provides a clear and logical analysis, identifying correlations between sugar intake and physical/emotional states.

Developing

2 Points

Attempts to analyze correlations, but the analysis is unclear or lacks sufficient support.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to analyze correlations between sugar intake and physical/emotional states.

Criterion 3

Action Plan Quality

Quality and feasibility of the personal action plan for reducing sugar intake, including SMART goals.

Exemplary

4 Points

Develops a highly effective and feasible personal action plan with well-defined SMART goals, demonstrating a strong commitment to healthier choices.

Proficient

3 Points

Develops a realistic and feasible personal action plan with clear SMART goals, demonstrating a commitment to healthier choices.

Developing

2 Points

Develops a personal action plan with SMART goals, but the plan may lack feasibility or clarity.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to develop a personal action plan with SMART goals for reducing sugar intake.

Category 3

Goal Getter: Setting Sweet Limits

Focuses on the student's ability to set a SMART goal, track their progress, and reflect on the impact of their goal on their overall health and well-being.

Criterion 1

SMART Goal Definition

Clarity and specificity of the SMART goal related to reducing sugar intake or making healthier food choices.

Exemplary

4 Points

Defines a SMART goal that is exceptionally clear, specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

Proficient

3 Points

Defines a SMART goal that is clear, specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

Developing

2 Points

Defines a goal that attempts to be SMART, but lacks clarity or specificity in some areas.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to define a SMART goal related to reducing sugar intake.

Criterion 2

Progress Tracking

Consistency and accuracy of the progress tracker in monitoring progress towards the SMART goal.

Exemplary

4 Points

Maintains a highly consistent and accurate progress tracker, meticulously documenting progress towards the SMART goal.

Proficient

3 Points

Maintains a consistent and accurate progress tracker, clearly documenting progress towards the SMART goal.

Developing

2 Points

Maintains a progress tracker with some inconsistencies or inaccuracies.

Beginning

1 Points

Maintains an incomplete or inaccurate progress tracker.

Criterion 3

Goal Impact Reflection

Depth and insightfulness of the reflection on successes, challenges, and the impact of the goal on overall health and well-being.

Exemplary

4 Points

Provides a deeply insightful and reflective evaluation, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of the impact of the goal on overall health and well-being.

Proficient

3 Points

Provides a thoughtful and clear reflection, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the impact of the goal on overall health and well-being.

Developing

2 Points

Provides a basic reflection with some understanding of the impact of the goal on overall health and well-being, but lacks depth.

Beginning

1 Points

Provides a superficial reflection with limited understanding of the impact of the goal on overall health and well-being.

Category 4

Expert Educator: Sugar and Disease

Focuses on the student's ability to research a sugar-related health condition and create an educational resource for their peers.

Criterion 1

Research Quality

Accuracy and depth of research on the chosen health condition related to high sugar consumption.

Exemplary

4 Points

Conducts comprehensive research using a wide range of credible sources, demonstrating an exceptional understanding of the chosen health condition.

Proficient

3 Points

Conducts thorough research using credible sources, demonstrating a solid understanding of the chosen health condition.

Developing

2 Points

Conducts basic research with some credible sources, but may have gaps in accuracy or depth.

Beginning

1 Points

Conducts minimal research and struggles to use credible sources to understand the chosen health condition.

Criterion 2

Educational Resource Quality

Clarity, accuracy, and effectiveness of the informational pamphlet, presentation, or video in educating peers about the health condition.

Exemplary

4 Points

Creates an exceptionally clear, accurate, and engaging informational resource that effectively educates peers about the health condition.

Proficient

3 Points

Creates a clear, accurate, and informative resource that effectively educates peers about the health condition.

Developing

2 Points

Creates a resource that attempts to educate peers, but may lack clarity, accuracy, or effectiveness.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to create an informational resource that effectively educates peers about the health condition.

Criterion 3

Content Comprehensiveness

Inclusion of accurate information, visuals, and actionable advice for prevention in the educational resource.

Exemplary

4 Points

Includes comprehensive and accurate information, compelling visuals, and highly actionable advice for prevention, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of the topic.

Proficient

3 Points

Includes accurate information, relevant visuals, and practical advice for prevention.

Developing

2 Points

Includes some information, visuals, and advice for prevention, but may lack accuracy or completeness.

Beginning

1 Points

Includes limited or inaccurate information, visuals, and advice for prevention.

Category 5

Sugar Sleuth: Decoding Food Labels

Focuses on the student's ability to analyze food labels, calculate sugar content, and compare it to recommended daily limits.

Criterion 1

Label Examination Accuracy

Accuracy in examining nutrition labels, including serving size, total sugar content, and added sugars.

Exemplary

4 Points

Demonstrates exceptional accuracy and attention to detail in examining nutrition labels, correctly identifying serving sizes, total sugar content, and added sugars.

Proficient

3 Points

Demonstrates accuracy in examining nutrition labels, correctly identifying serving sizes, total sugar content, and added sugars.

Developing

2 Points

Shows some inaccuracies in examining nutrition labels, misinterpreting serving sizes, total sugar content, or added sugars.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to accurately examine nutrition labels, demonstrating significant misunderstandings of serving sizes, total sugar content, and added sugars.

Criterion 2

Sugar Calculation Precision

Precision in calculating total sugar consumption and converting grams to teaspoons.

Exemplary

4 Points

Calculates total sugar consumption with exceptional precision and accurately converts grams to teaspoons.

Proficient

3 Points

Calculates total sugar consumption accurately and correctly converts grams to teaspoons.

Developing

2 Points

Shows some errors in calculating total sugar consumption or converting grams to teaspoons.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to calculate total sugar consumption and convert grams to teaspoons.

Criterion 3

Findings Summary Effectiveness

Effectiveness in comparing calculated sugar intake to recommended daily limits and summarizing findings.

Exemplary

4 Points

Provides a highly effective summary of findings, clearly comparing calculated sugar intake to recommended daily limits and drawing insightful conclusions.

Proficient

3 Points

Provides a clear summary of findings, comparing calculated sugar intake to recommended daily limits and drawing logical conclusions.

Developing

2 Points

Provides a basic summary, but may lack clarity in comparing calculated sugar intake to recommended daily limits or drawing conclusions.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to compare calculated sugar intake to recommended daily limits and summarize findings.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning

Question 1

Reflecting on the 'Sugar Sleuth: Decoding Food Labels' activity, what was the most surprising thing you learned about the sugar content in the food items you examined, and how might this influence your future food choices?

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Question 2

After completing the 'Sugar Diary: Tracking the Sweet Impact' activity, what patterns did you notice between your sugar intake, energy levels, and mood? How will you apply what you've learned to make healthier choices and manage your sugar consumption?

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Question 3

Based on your experiences with the 'Goal Getter: Setting Sweet Limits' project, what did you learn about your ability to set and achieve health-related goals? What strategies did you find most effective in overcoming challenges related to reducing your sugar intake?

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Question 4

Having completed the 'Expert Educator: Sugar and Disease' activity, how has your understanding of the link between sugar consumption and specific health conditions changed? What actions can you take to share this knowledge with others and promote healthier lifestyles in your community?

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Question 5

After deconstructing advertisements in the 'Marketing Manipulation: Unmasking Sugar Ads' activity, how has your perception of food marketing changed? What steps can you take to become a more critical consumer and avoid being influenced by misleading advertising tactics?

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