Introduction

Welcome to Physical Activity and Energy, the first lesson in the third module of the Energy Balance 101 curriculum.

The Energy Balance 101 curriculum is brought to K-5 educators by the Together Counts™ program, a nationwide program inspiring active and healthy living.  The main principal behind the Together Counts program is Energy Balance: balancing the calories we consume with the calories we burn.   

The Energy Balance 101 lesson plans are divided into four modules, each consisting of standards-based lessons and hands-on activities to bring Energy Balance to life for your students. The lessons in each module are customized for two grade bands: K-2 and 3-5. 

• Module 1 - An Introduction to Energy Balance: Learn how to make choices for an active, healthy lifestyle. (K-2, 3-5)
• Module 2 -  Energy In: Explore the food side of the Energy Balance Scale and set the stage for students to make sound, confident decisions about their health. (K-2, 3-5)
• Module 3 - Physical Activity: Investigate the Energy Out side of the Energy Balance Scale and learn about the benefits of being active. (K-2, 3-5)
• Module 4 - Ready, Set, Balance!: Apply the Energy Balance concept to students’ own lives. (K-2, 3-5)

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Overview

Students will learn how they use energy for all activities, including their basic body processes, and the amount of energy used by many of their daily activities.

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Objectives

Students in grades K-2 will:

• Identify how different types of physical activities make them feel.
• Categorize physical activities into high energy and low energy.
• Create a high energy activity plan for the following day.

Students in grades 3-5 will:

• Identify how different types of physical activities make them feel.
• Categorize and rank physical activities by how much energy they use.
• Select physical activities, based on the number of calories burned, to balance out calories from a food item.

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Standards Connections

National Standards for Physical Education

• Standard 3: Participates regularly in physical activity.
• Standard 4: Achieves and maintains a health-enhancing level of physical fitness.
• Standard 6: Values physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and/or social interaction.

National Health Education Standards

• Standard 2: Students will analyze the influence of family, peers, culture, media, technology, and other factors on health behaviors.
• Standard 4: Students will demonstrate the ability to use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health and avoid or reduce health risks.
• Standard 5: Students will demonstrate the ability to use decision-making skills to enhance health.
• Standard 6: Students will demonstrate the ability to use goal-setting skills to enhance health.

National Reading/Language Arts Standards

• Standard 5: Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.
• Standard 12: Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).

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Lesson Outline

To view the complete lesson, select the appropriate grade band below:

• K-2: Physical Activity and Energy
• 3-5: Physical Activity and Energy

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Energy Balance 101 Curriculum

• Full Energy Balance 101 Curriculum:  View and download the entire curriculum.

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Additional Resources

• TogetherCounts.com:  Check out this one-stop web portal that provides schools and families with free tools for active, healthy lifestyles.  

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