Class: Senior Secondary School 2 (SS2 / SSS 2)
Term: Second Term
Week: 2
Age: 16 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Physical Education
Curriculum Theme: Health and Fitness
Previous Lesson: Nutrition: Meaning, Types of Food and Food Classes.
Topic: Nutrition Continues
Subject Matter: Food nutrients and their functions, balanced diet, pre-games nutrition.

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

Define food nutrients and state their functions.
Explain what a balanced diet is and its importance.
Describe appropriate pre-games nutrition practices.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the role of proper nutrition in physical performance and overall health.
Value the importance of making healthy food choices for a balanced diet.
Show interest in adopting good pre-games nutrition habits.

Psychomotor Domain:

Create simple examples of balanced meal plans.
Apply basic pre-game nutrition tips for physical activities.
Identify various food groups from samples or charts.

Participate actively in classroom discussions about nutrition.
Share ideas on healthy eating with peers.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

Senior Secondary Schools Education Curriculum
State Unified Scheme of Work
Physical and Health Education for Senior Secondary Schools 2

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Charts showing food groups and nutrients
Posters illustrating balanced diet plates
Food samples (e.g., yam, egg, fruit)
Textbooks

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand how different foods affect their bodies and physical performance. It enables them to make informed choices about their diet, which is important for maintaining good health and excelling in sports and other physical activities.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have basic knowledge of food and health from their previous lessons in Basic Science and Physical Education.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Nutrition Continues

Food Nutrients and Their Functions

Food nutrients are chemical substances in food that are essential for the body’s growth, repair, energy, and regulation of body processes.

The following are major food nutrients and their functions:

Carbohydrates: Provide energy for daily activities and physical performance. Examples include yam, rice, bread.
Proteins: Essential for growth, repair of worn-out tissues, and building muscles. Examples include beans, eggs, meat, fish.
Fats: Provide concentrated energy, insulate the body, and protect organs. Examples include groundnut oil, butter, avocado.
Vitamins: Regulate body processes, boost immunity, and maintain good health. Examples include vitamins A, B, C, D, E, K found in fruits and vegetables.
Minerals: Important for bone formation, blood production, and nerve function. Examples include calcium, iron, potassium found in milk, leafy greens, salt.
Water: Regulates body temperature, transports nutrients, and aids digestion. It is vital for all bodily functions.

Balanced Diet

A balanced diet is a meal that contains all the essential food nutrients in the right proportions needed for the body to function optimally. It includes a variety of foods from different food groups.

Key aspects of a balanced diet:

Food Proportions: Consuming carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals in the correct amounts. For example, a larger portion of carbohydrates for energy, adequate protein for repair, and smaller amounts of fats.
Variety: Eating a wide range of foods from all food groups (grains, fruits, vegetables, protein sources, dairy) to ensure all nutrients are obtained.
Moderation: Avoiding excessive intake of any single nutrient or food type, especially those high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats.

Pre-Games Nutrition

Pre-games nutrition refers to the food and fluids consumed before physical activity or a sporting event to optimize performance and prevent fatigue.

Important considerations for pre-games nutrition:

Timing of Meals:
- Eat a main meal 3-4 hours before the event. This meal should be rich in complex carbohydrates (e.g., pasta, rice) and moderate in protein, low in fat and fiber.
- A light snack (e.g., banana, energy bar) can be taken 1-2 hours before the event.
Hydration:
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day leading up to the event.
- Consume about 500-600 ml of water 2-3 hours before the event.
- Drink 200-300 ml of water 10-20 minutes before the event starts.
Food Choices:
- Focus on easily digestible carbohydrates for sustained energy.
- Avoid high-fat, high-fiber, and spicy foods that can cause digestive upset.
- Avoid new foods on game day to prevent unexpected reactions.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them to recall what they learned about nutrition in previous classes. The teacher then introduces the topic “Nutrition Continues” and states the learning objectives.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to questions about previous knowledge and listen attentively to the introduction.
Learning Point: Pupils connect new learning to prior knowledge and understand the lesson’s focus.

Step 2: Food Nutrients and Their Functions

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher uses charts and food samples to explain the different classes of food nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, water) and their specific functions in the body.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the charts and food samples, ask questions, and take notes.
Learning Point: Pupils learn to identify different food nutrients and understand their roles in the body.

Step 3: Balanced Diet

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Illustration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines a balanced diet, discusses the importance of food proportions and variety, and illustrates with a poster of a balanced meal plate. The teacher asks pupils to suggest examples of balanced meals.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils participate in the discussion, offer examples of balanced meals, and take notes.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the concept of a balanced diet and how to achieve it.

Step 4: Pre-Games Nutrition

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Practical application
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the importance of pre-games nutrition, focusing on the timing of meals, appropriate food choices, and adequate hydration before physical activity or sports. The teacher gives practical tips.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, ask questions, and note down the key pre-games nutrition tips.
Learning Point: Pupils learn how to fuel their bodies properly for optimal physical performance.

Step 5: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

List three major food nutrients and state one function for each.
What is a balanced diet?
Give two reasons why pre-games nutrition is important.
Mention two tips for proper hydration before a game.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization/Consolidation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points of the lesson, emphasizing the importance of good nutrition for health and sports. The teacher then assigns homework for pupils to research specific dietary needs for different sports.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy the homework assignment.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and prepare for further exploration of the topic.

Lesson Keywords

Nutrients – Substances in food that provide energy, promote growth, and regulate body processes.
Carbohydrates – Main source of energy for the body.
Proteins – Essential for growth and repair of tissues.
Fats – Provide concentrated energy and insulation.
Vitamins – Organic compounds vital for normal growth and nutrition.
Minerals – Inorganic elements needed for various body functions.
Balanced Diet – A diet containing all essential nutrients in correct proportions.
Hydration – The process of providing water to the body.
Pre-games Nutrition – Food and fluid intake before physical activity to enhance performance.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher can challenge them to analyze food labels for nutrient content. For those who need more support, the teacher can provide simplified charts and focus on identifying basic food groups and their primary functions.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Encourage pupils to bring examples of food packaging labels to class for a practical session on identifying nutrients. Emphasize the direct link between nutrition and physical performance, using examples of local athletes if possible.