Overview

Carbohydrates give us energy. By choosing the right kind of carbohydrates students can be better prepared to think, move and play. This interactive lesson builds a students ability to recognize and choose between carbohydrates that are simple, complex or empty.

Objectives

• Students will be able to spell and state the definition of carbohydrate.
• Students will be able to state the three kinds of carbohydrates.
• Students will be able to categorize foods as a simple, complex or empty carbohydrate.

Materials

Student Activity Sheet. Included with the student activity sheet is a full PDF version of the same lesson plan. (278KB PDF)

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download the print materials.

Lesson and Teacher Talking Points for Class Discussion:

• A car needs gas to run - carbohydrates are like gas for your body. You need it to run your body’s engine. When your parents buy gas for their car, they choose the kind of gas that will make their car run the best.
• Check out question #1 on your worksheet - let's spell 'carbohydrates'.
• It's important to eat foods with carbohydrates every day. Your body needs carbohydrates to think, move and play. There are different types of gas for your cars and there are different types of carbohydrates in foods.
• Check out question #2 on your worksheet - true or false? [True]
• Here's what’s impor tant to remember - foods have three kinds of carbohydrates - simple, complex and empty. Look at question #3 and fill in the blanks:
  • SIMPLE carbohydrates give you quick energy to think and move fast.
  • COMPLEX carbohydrates give you energy that lasts a long time.
  • EMPTY carbohydrates give you energy but nothing else.
• Let's define carbohydrates. Look at question #4 and circle the words you think best describe a carbohydrate. We'll review the answers as a group.