Grade 8 Health

Grade 8 Health Curriculum

Unit 1: Healthy Eating

Nutrients - Demonstrate an understanding of different types of nutrients (e.g., macronutrients and micronutrients) and their functions. Inquiry Question: “Different kinds of nutrients are needed to achieve optimal health and prevent disease. Nutrients can be divided into two types – macronutrients and micronutrients. What are these, and why is each kind of nutrient needed for good health?”

Food Choices Criteria - Evaluate personal food choices on the basis of a variety of criteria, including serving size, nutrient content, energy value, and ingredients (e.g., fats, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals, calories, additives, allergens), preparation method, and other factors that can affect health and well-being. Inquiry Questions: “Why is paying attention to nutrients more valuable than counting calories?” “Serving size is one thing to consider when making food choices. How many servings of fruits and vegetables are recommended for teenagers?” “If you do not eat breakfast, how does that affect how you feel during the day?”

Promoting Healthy Eating - Identify strategies for promoting healthy eating within the school, home, and community (e.g., implementing school healthy food policies, launching healthy-eating campaigns, choosing healthy food items to sell in fundraising campaigns, getting involved in family meal planning, learning food preparation skills, urging local restaurants to highlight healthy food choices). Inquiry Question: “How could you promote healthy eating at home?”

Lesson 1: What Nutrients?

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to apply relationship and social skills as they think critically and creatively to demonstrate understanding of factors that contribute to healthy development such as an understanding of different types of nutrients.

Student Resource 1: Types of Nutrients
Student Resource 2: Nutrient Graphic Organizer
Student Resource 3: What’s for Lunch?

Lesson 2: What are my Options?

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to make reasoned decisions as they evaluate personal food choices on the basis of a variety of criteria such as types of nutrients contained in the food item, preparation method, serving size and energy value and use critical and creative thinking to acquire the knowledge and skills required to make reasoned decisions regarding healthy living and personal food choices.

Student Resource 4: Fast-Food Selection

 

 

Additional Resources:

http://www.dietitians.ca - This website provides a wealth of information, resources and background information regarding nutrition, as well as direct links to registered dieticians in your area who are available for consultation as required.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/index-eng.php - This website provides direct links to Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide and Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide for First Nations, Inuit and Métis, as well as information on how to use the food guide and maintain healthy habits.

http://www.eatrightontario.ca/en/Default.aspx - Registered dietitians provide visitors to EatRight Ontario with feature articles on food and nutrition, meal planning advice, healthy eating tips and recipes.

http://www.dietitians.ca/public/content/eat_well_live_well/english/recipeanalyzer/recipeanalyzer.asp - This recipe analysis software may be useful in determining the nutritional value of foods that are culturally appropriate for inclusion in this lesson, or for fast-food items not contained in nutritional guides.