LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Identify health benefits associated with eating enough protein; distinguish facts from myths about the best way to get enough protein in your diet.

HEALTH ED STANDARDS

NHES 7: Practice health-enhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce health risks.

CASEL: Self-management, responsible decision making

Lesson Plan: Your Body on Protein

You need enough—but not too much—of this nutrient.

PREPARING TO READ

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

How does eating enough protein benefit your body, mind, and mood?

READING AND DISCUSSION

  • Have your students read the article “Your Body on Protein” 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 PLAN YOUR PROTEIN, have students do some further research on protein-rich foods and create a five-day meal plan to help them get enough (but not too much!) protein at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They can use the article for inspiration, but encourage them to be creative and to include a variety of foods they enjoy. Remind students to record the protein content of each meal’s protein source in its corresponding box. Students can find the protein content of one serving of most foods by searching online and by using resources such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Print the Lesson Plan

Text-to-Speech