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Food, Physical Activity, and Body Weight

This analysis and discussion activity helps students to understand the relationships between food, physical activity, cellular respiration, and changes in body weight. Analysis of a representative scenario helps students to understand how challenging it is to prevent weight gain by exercising to offset what seems to be a relatively modest lunch.

In an optional research project, each student asks an additional question and prepares a report based on recommended reliable internet sources.

The Student Handout is available in the first two attached files and as a Google doc designed for use in distance learning and online instruction. The Teacher Notes, available in the last two attached files, provide instructional suggestions and background information and explain how this activity is aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards.

AttachmentSize
FoodPAWtSH.docx219.34 KB
FoodPAWtSH.pdf261.52 KB
FoodPAWtTN.docx609.91 KB
FoodPAWtTN.pdf282.27 KB
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Comments

iwaldron's picture

2024 revision

Submitted by iwaldron on Fri, 06/21/2024 - 12:36pm.

In the Student Handout, I have clarified several questions and explanations. I have also updated the sources for the optional research project. In the Teacher Notes, I have updated the discussion of physical activity and obesity and provided new instructions for the optional research project.

Ingrid

iwaldron's picture

2020 revision

Submitted by iwaldron on Mon, 11/02/2020 - 6:42am.

The Student Handout has been revised and expanded to emphasize the basic science underlying the practical applications.
Ingrid

iwaldron's picture

2018 revision

Submitted by iwaldron on Wed, 11/14/2018 - 12:10pm.

In the 2018 revision of the Student Handout, I have clarified explanations and questions and updated the links to sources for the student research project. In addition, the Student Handout has been reorganized to begin the learning activity with an engaging phenomenon.

iwaldron's picture

2016 revision

Submitted by iwaldron on Wed, 08/03/2016 - 2:06pm.

This analysis and discussion activity has been substantially revised to clarify basic principles and to engage students in thinking about healthy eating and physical activity.

iwaldron's picture

2014 revision

Submitted by iwaldron on Thu, 06/05/2014 - 8:51am.

The 2014 revision has improved the clarity of parts of the Student Handout and Teacher Notes.

iwaldron's picture

May, 2011 revised version

Submitted by iwaldron on Wed, 05/18/2011 - 7:42am.

The questions in the Student Handout have been revised to clarify the relationships between food, cellular respiration, energy and body weight and the Teacher Notes have been expanded with additional useful information for class discussion.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. To preserve the value of these learning activities for other teachers, please do not post keys for any questions from any of these activities!

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Authors

Dr. Ingrid Waldron is Professor Emerita in the Biology Department at the University of Pennsylvania. Co-authors include Dr. Jennifer Doherty, who is an Assistant Professor in the Physiology Department at Michigan State University, and Dr. Lori Spindler, who is a Lecturer in the Biology Department at the University of Pennsylvania. They have developed these activities in collaboration with colleagues at Penn and middle school and high school teachers in the Philadelphia area. We are grateful to Craig Douglas for his generous help with graphics.

 

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