LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Identify a range of health benefits associated with a diet rich in calcium; understand the importance of calcium for kids and teens; distinguish facts from myths about calcium.

HEALTH ED STANDARDS

NHES 1: Comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention.

CASEL: Self-management, responsible decision making

Lesson Plan: Your Body on Calcium

This important mineral is responsible for strong bones . . . and much more.

PREPARING TO READ

Before you read the article “Your Body on Calcium,” ask your students the following pre-reading question:

How does calcium help your body?

READING AND DISCUSSION

  • Have your students read the article “Your Body on Calcium” independently; read the article out loud to them; or have students partner-read the article out loud.
  • After they’ve read the article, revisit the pre-reading question. Have their answers changed?

BUILDING COMPREHENSION

Check students’ comprehension of and engagement with the story with the following assessment tools:

  • Comprehension Quiz

EXPANDING SEL OPPORTUNITIES

Continue the learning journey with the following extension activity:

In CALCIUM ADDS UP, students will do further research on calcium-rich foods and use the skills sheet to create a five-day meal plan to help them get enough calcium at breakfast, lunch, and dinner (for teens, this should add up to around 1,300 milligrams per day). Encourage students to include a variety of foods that they enjoy. Remind them to research the calcium content of a serving of their chosen foods in order to complete the bottom row.

Print the Lesson Plan

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