Lesson: 1.9 The Six Nutrients
Print: Page 1 (the cards) on card stock, one set per team, cut on the lines and clipped. Pages 2 and 3, one per student.
Page 1: The 30 food cards (cut apart)
Each card has the food name and a one-line picture in words. Cards marked with a small 8 in the corner are the ten extra cards for grade 7 and 8; a grade 6 set uses the 20 cards without the 8.
| 1. Whole wheat bread (a brown slice with seeds on the crust) | 2. Grilled chicken breast (a plain cooked chicken piece on a plate) | 3. Olive oil (a green glass bottle with a pour spout) |
| 4. Orange (a whole orange and a peeled half) | 5. Milk (a glass of white milk next to a carton) | 6. Water (a clear glass of water with ice) |
| 7. White rice (a bowl of cooked rice) | 8. Black beans (a bowl of cooked dark beans) | 9. Avocado (a green fruit cut in half with the pit) |
| 10. Broccoli (green florets on a plate) | 11. Cheddar cheese (an orange block with two slices cut) | 12. Watermelon (a red wedge with seeds) 8 |
| 13. Pasta (a bowl of cooked spaghetti, no sauce) | 14. Eggs (two eggs, one cracked open showing the yolk) | 15. Butter (a yellow stick on a dish) |
| 16. Carrots (three orange carrots with green tops) | 17. Spinach (a pile of dark green leaves) | 18. Cucumber (a green cucumber with three slices) 8 |
| 19. Banana (a yellow banana, half peeled) | 20. Peanut butter (a jar with a spoon of peanut butter) | 21. Salmon (a pink cooked fish fillet) 8 |
| 22. Strawberries (five red berries with green tops) | 23. Yogurt (a cup of plain white yogurt with a spoon) | 24. Almonds (a small pile of brown nuts) 8 |
| 25. Oatmeal (a bowl of cooked oats) | 26. Tofu (a white block cut into cubes) 8 | 27. Soup broth (a mug of clear steaming broth) 8 |
| 28. Sweet potato (an orange potato cut open) 8 | 29. Lentils (a bowl of cooked brown lentils) 8 | 30. Tortilla chips (a bowl of yellow triangle chips) 8 |
Pile cards (print six per team, larger):
| CARBOHYDRATES | PROTEINS | FATS |
| VITAMINS | MINERALS | WATER |
Page 2: The six nutrients chart
Name: ______________________________ Date: ______________ Period: ______
Directions: Fill in the chart as we go through the six nutrients. One job, two foods each.
| Nutrient | What it does in your body (the job) | Two foods that give it |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates | ||
| Proteins | ||
| Fats | ||
| Vitamins | ||
| Minerals | ||
| Water |
Word bank (for the nutrient names): [Sal: paste the Turkish, Portuguese, and Spanish words from Vocabulary 01.md here before printing.]
The sort: Put every card in a pile. If a card belongs in two piles, put it between them and write it here.
Card that fits two piles: ______________________ Piles: __________________ and __________________
Why: _______________________________________________________________________
Card that fits two piles: ______________________ Piles: __________________ and __________________
Why: _______________________________________________________________________
Page 3: Lifespan needs table
Directions: Three people, three different bodies. For each person, pick the TWO nutrients they need most right now and write one sentence why, using a job from the chart on page 2.
Nutrient bank to circle or write: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, water
| Person | Nutrient 1 | Nutrient 2 | Why (use a job from the chart) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A two year old who is learning to walk and talk | |||
| A 14 year old on a travel soccer team who practices five days a week | |||
| A 78 year old grandparent who walks a mile most days and eats less than they used to |
Sentence starter: "A ___ needs ___ because it helps ___."
Grade 8 stretch, fourth person: a pregnant adult. Nutrient 1: ____________ Nutrient 2: ____________ Why: _______________________________
Teacher key
The 30 cards, main nutrient and second nutrient. "Main" is the pile the card belongs in. "Also" is the pile it could sit between; those are the cards that make the "two piles" rule work.
| Card | Main pile | Also | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Whole wheat bread | Carbohydrates | Vitamins (B vitamins), Minerals (iron) | whole grain, also fiber |
| 2. Grilled chicken breast | Proteins | Minerals (iron) | lean protein |
| 3. Olive oil | Fats | pure fat | |
| 4. Orange | Vitamins (C) | Carbohydrates, Water | |
| 5. Milk | Proteins | Minerals (calcium), Fats, Water | the classic three-pile card |
| 6. Water | Water | pure water | |
| 7. White rice | Carbohydrates | ||
| 8. Black beans | Proteins | Carbohydrates, Minerals (iron), fiber | a plant protein that is also a carb |
| 9. Avocado | Fats | Vitamins | a fruit that is mostly fat |
| 10. Broccoli | Vitamins (C, K) | Minerals, Water | |
| 11. Cheddar cheese | Proteins | Fats, Minerals (calcium) | |
| 12. Watermelon | Water | Carbohydrates, Vitamins (C) | about 92 percent water |
| 13. Pasta | Carbohydrates | ||
| 14. Eggs | Proteins | Fats, Vitamins (D in the yolk) | |
| 15. Butter | Fats | ||
| 16. Carrots | Vitamins (A) | Carbohydrates, Water | |
| 17. Spinach | Minerals (iron) | Vitamins (A, K), Water | accept Vitamins as main |
| 18. Cucumber | Water | Vitamins | about 95 percent water |
| 19. Banana | Carbohydrates | Minerals (potassium), Vitamins | |
| 20. Peanut butter | Fats | Proteins | accept Proteins as main |
| 21. Salmon | Proteins | Fats (omega 3), Vitamins (D) | |
| 22. Strawberries | Vitamins (C) | Carbohydrates, Water | |
| 23. Yogurt | Proteins | Minerals (calcium), Carbohydrates | |
| 24. Almonds | Fats | Proteins, Minerals | accept Proteins as main |
| 25. Oatmeal | Carbohydrates | Minerals, fiber | whole grain |
| 26. Tofu | Proteins | Minerals (calcium, when set with calcium) | plant protein |
| 27. Soup broth | Water | Minerals (sodium) | |
| 28. Sweet potato | Carbohydrates | Vitamins (A) | accept Vitamins as main |
| 29. Lentils | Proteins | Carbohydrates, Minerals (iron), fiber | |
| 30. Tortilla chips | Carbohydrates | Fats, Minerals (sodium) | processed; the salty card |
Scoring the sort: a team sort is "got it" at 24 of 30 cards in the main pile or between the main pile and an "also" pile. Cards with "accept ... as main" count either way.
The six nutrients chart (page 2), accepted answers.
| Nutrient | Job | Foods (any two) |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates | The body's main quick energy source | bread, rice, pasta, oatmeal, potatoes, fruit, beans |
| Proteins | Build and repair muscle, skin, and other tissue; growth | chicken, fish, eggs, beans, milk, cheese, yogurt, tofu, nuts |
| Fats | Stored energy; protect organs; keep the body warm; carry vitamins A, D, E, and K; brain growth in young children | oil, butter, avocado, nuts, peanut butter, salmon, cheese |
| Vitamins | Help the body run its processes (seeing, healing, fighting illness, using energy) | fruits, vegetables, milk (D), eggs, whole grains (B) |
| Minerals | Build bones and teeth (calcium); carry oxygen in the blood (iron); balance fluids (potassium, sodium) | milk, cheese, yogurt, spinach, beans, meat, bananas |
| Water | Carries nutrients and waste; controls body temperature; makes up more than half the body | water, milk, soup, fruit, vegetables |
Lifespan needs table (page 3), accepted answers. Any two that match the science with a reason tied to a job. The most defensible pairs:
| Person | Needs most | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Two year old | Fats and minerals (calcium, iron); also proteins | Fat for brain growth; calcium for bones and teeth that are still forming; iron for blood as the body grows fast; small stomach, so small meals often |
| 14 year old athlete | Carbohydrates and water; also proteins and minerals (calcium, iron) | Carbs for energy at practice; water to replace sweat; protein to build muscle during a growth spurt; calcium for bones that are still hardening; iron for oxygen, especially for girls |
| 78 year old | Proteins and minerals (calcium, vitamin D); also water and fiber (carbohydrates) | Protein to keep muscle; calcium and vitamin D to slow bone loss; fewer calories needed but the same or more of these; thirst signal weakens with age, so water on a schedule |
| Grade 8 stretch, pregnant adult | Minerals (iron, calcium) and vitamins (folate); also proteins | Iron for more blood; calcium for the baby's bones; folate for the baby's brain and spine; protein for growth |
Do not mark down a student who picks water for the toddler or protein for the athlete if the reason uses a real job. The point is the reason, not the pair.