To launch the project, the teacher will initiate a discussion involving favorite fast food. If students do not introduce the idea of calories and health, the teacher will ask students if they have ever thought about how many calories their favorite fast food item contains. Do they know? Can they guess? Show the following video, pausing to allow students to guess which fast food item has more calories and again to allow for discussion when the answer is revealed. (Instructors can also use this Kahoot quiz to poll students answers while watching this video.)
Show this video.
Ask students what they wonder. If no one wonders this: "I wonder how long it will take the winner to work off that McDonald's meal playing basketball?", steer them in that direction. Have students give three answers, one that is obviously way too long, one that is way too short, and one they think might be realistic.
Show this video. (Instructors can also use this Kahoot quiz to poll students answers while watching this video.)
Ask students if this changes any of their answers from the McDonald's commercial. Allow them to change their answers if they request to do so. Based on what they have seen, what would they need to know to answer this question. Brainstorm on the board everything students think might impact how long it takes to work a meal off. Give them time on their Chromebooks to find some answers to their questions.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
The teacher should tell the students at this point that this project only looks at calories. We are not taking into consideration sodium, saturated fat, protein, fiber, sugar, etc. all important elements in nutrition.
The teacher should also be conscious of eating disorders. The teacher should mention that eating too much or too little would be considered unhealthy, and any other questions the students have about eating disorders can be addressed to the health teacher or school counselor.