Snack Science Slides Body Fuel Lab • Lesson 1
Snack Science
How do we choose snacks that give our bodies real, lasting energy?
Fuel Stop
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What is Body Fuel?
Fuel Stop
Everything we eat is fuel for our brain, muscles, and organs.
High Quality Fuel:
Keeps us focused, keeps our mood steady, and gives us long-lasting power.
Fast Energy
Sharp Brain
Happy Mood
Strong Heart
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Green Light: GO Foods!
Fuel Stop
Whole Foods
These come directly from nature. They have zero added junk .
Full of vitamins, fiber, and clean water that clean out our system and give us lasting fuel.
🍎
Fresh Fruits
Apples, bananas, berries
🥕
Vegetables
Carrots, celery, cucumbers
🥜
Nuts & Seeds
Almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds
🥚
Simple Protein
Hard-boiled eggs, plain yogurt
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Yellow Light: SLOW Foods!
Fuel Stop
Moderately Processed
These are changed a little bit, but still have good energy values .
Eat these with balance. They give energy but might contain some added salt, oil, or sugar.
🧀
Cheese Sticks
Good calcium & protein
🍿
Light Popcorn
Whole grain, low butter
🍞
Wheat Crackers
Complex carbs for energy
🍓
Yogurt Cups
Protein, but watch the sugar!
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Red Light: STOP Foods!
Fuel Stop
Highly Processed
These are packed with sugar, chemical preservatives, and unhealthy fats .
These crash your energy, making you tired, irritable, and hungry again very quickly.
🍩
Donuts & Cakes
Huge sugar rush, then heavy crash
🍟
Potato Chips
Very high sodium, low fuel power
🥤
Sugary Sodas
Tons of liquid sugar, no fiber
🍬
Sticky Candy
Creates cavities, zero nutrition
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Let's Play: Snack Attack!
Fuel Stop
Your Mission:
We are going to sort physical snack cards into their correct fuel colors.
Identify the snack on your card
Think: Is it direct from nature? Or modified?
Place it on the correct Green, Yellow, or Red mat!
Classroom Rules
👋
Take turns with your teammates
🗣️
Use inside voices to talk snacks
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Snack Sorting Activity Body Fuel Lab • Teacher Guide Lesson 1 Activity
Snack Attack Sorting Game
Hands-on sorting game for categorization and sensory nutritional values.
Game Objective
Students will physically sort 12 snack cards into three categories: Green Light (Go) , Yellow Light (Slow) , and Red Light (Stop) . This builds visual literacy, functional reading, and category sorting skills.
Teacher Instructions
1
Print and Cut: Print Pages 2 & 3 containing the 12 Snack Cards. Cut along the dashed lines. Lamination is highly recommended for longevity in Essential Skills classrooms.
2
Set Up Mats: Print Page 4 (Sorting Mats). Place the three colored circles/mats in the center of student tables or tape them to three different walls for a "movement-based" active game.
3
Play & Discuss: Hand cards to students. Ask them to take turns reading their card aloud (or looking at the emoji), describing the food, and deciding where it goes. Ask: "Does this come from nature?"
Discussion Prompts
"Why does an apple give us steady energy but a donut makes us feel tired later?"
"If a food has a yellow light, does that mean we can never eat it? (No, just eat it slowly/moderately!)"
"Name one snack at home that belongs in the Green Light category."
Differentiation Tip
Emergent Learners: Focus entirely on the emojis and the question: "Is this a real fruit/veg or candy?" Functional Learners: Have them read the brief description on the card and explain why it is Green, Yellow, or Red.
Body Fuel Lab • Science & Life Skills Page 1 of 4
Printable Material Cards 1-6
Snack Cards (Part 1)
Cut along the dashed lines to create physical game cards.
🍎 Go
Fresh Apple
Grown on a tree. Full of fiber, vitamins, and sweet water. Keep your energy high.
🍟 Stop
Potato Chips
Fried in heavy oil and packed with salt. Makes you thirsty and crashes your energy.
🧀 Slow
Cheese Stick
Made from milk. High protein and calcium for bones. Has a bit of salt, so eat in balance.
🥕 Go
Carrot Sticks
Pulled out of the soil. Crunchy and sweet. Great for eye health and zero added junk.
🥤 Stop
Sugary Soda
Made in a factory. Loaded with liquid chemical sugar. No nutrients, hurts your teeth.
Snack Lab Worksheet UNIT: BODY FUEL LAB • SCIENCE & LIFE SKILLS LESSON 1
Name:
Date:
Snack Lab Report
Let's look at food fuel and sort our snacks!
A Fuel Lights Match
Draw a line from each traffic light to its matching body fuel action:
GO Green Light
SLOW Yellow Light
STOP Red Light
Moderately processed foods. Good to eat in a balanced amount.
Highly processed foods. Spikes and crashes our energy levels.
Whole foods directly from nature. Gives the body long energy.
B Snack Fuel Check
Look at the snacks below. Color the light that shows its category:
🥕 Carrot Sticks
GO S ST
🥤 Sweet Soda
GO S ST
🍿 Popcorn
GO S ST
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UNIT: BODY FUEL LAB • SCIENCE & LIFE SKILLS LESSON 1
C My Fuel Choices
Word Bank
sugar nature energy
1. Green Light snacks are whole foods that come straight from
2. Green Light and Yellow Light snacks give our bodies high quality
3. Red Light snacks are highly processed and have too much added
D My Fuel Plan
Choose one Green Light or Yellow Light snack you would love to eat tomorrow:
My chosen snack is:
Why is this snack a great fuel choice for your body?
(Sentence Starter: "This is a great choice because...")
Draw your chosen snack in the box below!
Body Fuel Lab • Daily Science Lab Reports Page 2 of 2
Plate Planner Slides Body Fuel Lab • Lesson 2
Plate Science
Learn how to combine protein, grain, fruit, and vegetables into highly efficient fuel blocks!
Balanced Eating
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The Core Four Food Groups
Plate Science
🍗
Protein
Builds strong muscles and active tissues.
1/4 Plate
🍞
Grains
Provides slow-release, sustained fuel power.
1/4 Plate
🥦
Vegetables
Protects body health with key vitamins.
1/4 Plate+
🍓
Fruits
Gives organic energy and keeps us clean.
1/4 Plate-
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Protein & Grains: The Power Blocks
Plate Science
🍗
Protein Power
Proteins act like builders. They repair our muscles when we run, jump, or work.
Examples: Grilled chicken, turkey, fish, beans, tofu, and boiled eggs.
🌾
Grain Fuel
Grains act like battery packs. They store carbohydrate fuel and release it slowly.
Examples: Brown rice, oatmeal, whole-wheat bread, and corn tortillas.
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Fruits & Veggies: Health Shields
Plate Science
🥦
Vegetable Shield
Vegetables provide water and vitamins to shield us from getting sick.
Examples: Broccoli, baby carrots, celery, lettuce, bell peppers.
🍒
Fruit Boost
Fruits give natural sweetness and high fiber to assist our digestive tracts.
Examples: Blueberries, apples, bananas, watermelon slices.
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The Perfect Plate Layout
Plate Science
🥦 Veggies 1/2 Plate (Left)
🍗 Protein 1/4 Plate
🍓 Fruit 1/2 Plate (Left)
🌾 Grains 1/4 Plate
Rule of Thumb:
Fill half of your plate with fruits and vegetables first.
Add a quarter plate of lean protein.
Fill the rest with quarter plate of healthy grains.
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Let's Play: Chef's Challenge!
What's on the Menu Role Play Body Fuel Lab • Teacher Guide Lesson 2 Activity
What's on the Menu?
Scenario-based meal assembly role play for Essential Skills classrooms.
Role Play Objective
Students act as "Fuel Chefs" in a restaurant. They read customer order cards, select correct food tokens to meet nutrition demands, and build a balanced plate on their master mat.
Activity Set Up
1
Print the Assets: Print Page 2 (Customer Cards), Page 3 (Food Tokens), and Page 4 (Blank Plate Mats). Cut along the dotted and dashed lines.
2
Form Kitchen Teams: Group students in pairs (One "Customer" and one "Chef", then swap!). Chef receives the Plate Mat and Food Tokens.
3
Serve the Meals: The Customer hands an Order Card to the Chef. The Chef reads the requirements and places tokens on the Plate Mat to fulfill it.
Scaffolding and Modeling
Model First: Walk through Customer 1's card as a class. Point out key words: "runner", "muscles", "grains". Ask: "Which tokens should the chef grab?"Self-Correction: Teach students to look at the Plate Mat boundaries. If they put only Grains on the plate, prompt: "Is our vegetable half empty?"
Classroom Management Tip
Use paper plates and actual velcro dots to attach the tokens to the master plate mat! This adds an excellent tactile sensory dynamic for emergent learners.
Body Fuel Lab • Science & Life Skills Page 1 of 4
Role Play Assets Customer Orders
Customer Order Cards
Cut along the dashed lines. Hand these to the "Customer" students.
🏃♂️ Order #1
Runner Ryan
"I have a big track race tomorrow! I need lots of energy and strong muscle power."
Chef's Recipe:
Must include Chicken (Protein) and Brown Rice (Grain).
Plate requirement: 1 Protein, 1 Grain, 2 Fruits/Veg
🧠 Order #2
Study Sarah
"I am studying for a science test. I need snacks to keep my brain sharp and focused."
Chef's Recipe:
Must include Almonds (Protein) and Blueberries (Fruit).
Plate requirement: 1 Protein, 1 Fruit, 1 Veg, 1 Grain
🥞 Order #3
Morning Mason
"I love breakfast! I want a warm morning meal that matches my daily energy chart."
Chef's Recipe:
Plate Science Worksheet UNIT: BODY FUEL LAB • SCIENCE & LIFE SKILLS LESSON 2
Name:
Date:
Plate Science Lab
Let's practice grouping our foods and building a perfect plate!
A Core Four Matching
Draw a line from each food item to its correct Food Group category:
🥦 Green Broccoli
🍗 Grilled Chicken
🍚 Brown Rice
🍒 Sweet Cherries
Protein Group
Grain Group
Vegetable Group
Fruit Group
B Plate Portions Check
Choose the correct answer based on the Plate Science Slides:
1. Which two food groups should fill up half of our plate?
Protein and Grains
Fruits and Vegetables
2. How much of our plate should be filled with high quality grains?
One Quarter (1/4) of the plate
The Whole (1/1) plate
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UNIT: BODY FUEL LAB • SCIENCE & LIFE SKILLS LESSON 2
C Building My Balanced Dinner
Use the words in the word bank below to fill in the dinner plan:
Dinner Word Bank
chicken brown rice broccoli
1. For my healthy dinner vegetable, I will cook fresh green
2. For my healthy muscle-building protein, I will bake some
3. For my high quality energy grain, I will boil a side of
D My Plate Portrait
Draw and label your healthy dinner items directly on the plate below!
Veg
Protein
Fruit
Grain
How does your dinner make you feel strong?
(Sentence Starter: "This dinner gives me strength by...")
Body Fuel Lab • Daily Science Lab Reports Page 2 of 2
Hydro Hero Slides Body Fuel Lab • Lesson 3
Hydro Hack
Water is your body's super conductor. How do we keep our energy moving?
Hydration Science
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The Body's Main Conductor
Hydro Hack
Your body is over 60% water ! It needs water to keep every system running.
Why Water Rules:
It moves nutrients around, keeps your joints moving smoothly, and helps sweat keep you cool.
Better Focus
Easy Digestion
Body Temp Control
Higher Energy
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Dehydration Warning Signs
Hydro Hack
When your body runs low on water, it flashes warning lights .
Don't wait until you're extremely thirsty—that means you are already running empty!
🤯
Headache or Brain Fog
Trouble thinking or remembering
🥱
Heavy Sleepiness
Feeling tired even when sitting still
🚽
Dark Yellow Urine
Healthy urine should be clear or pale yellow!
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Pure Water vs. The Sugar Trap
Hydro Hack
💧
Pure Hydration
Water clears out toxins and gives pure hydration with 0 added sugar .
Result: Zero crash, glowing skin, healthy body organs, and constant daily focus.
🥤
The Sugar Trap
Sodas and energy drinks have up to 10 teaspoons of chemical sugar!
Result: Sudden rapid blood sugar spikes, followed by heavy tiredness, head thumping, and dehydration.
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Hydration Action Hacks
Hydro Hack
Simple Daily Goals:
How do we ensure we get enough water without getting bored?
🍋
Add lemon, lime, or cucumber slices for simple organic flavor!
The Morning Glass
Drink 1 cup of fresh water right when you wake up.
The Companion Hack
Keep a reusable water bottle on your desk or in your bag all day.
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Scavenger Hunt: Hydration Stations!
Hydro Hack
Movement Mission:
There are 6 Hydration Stations hidden around our classroom.
Hydration Station Scavenger Hunt Body Fuel Lab • Teacher Guide Lesson 3 Activity
Hydration Station Hunt
Movement-based active scavenger hunt to learn bodily hydration rules.
Setup Instructions
1. Print and Cut: Cut out the 6 Station Cards on Pages 2 and 3. Tape them around your classroom (on cupboards, walls, doors, etc.) at student eye-level.Hand Out Log: Give each student or student-pair the "Student Code Tracker" on the bottom half of this page.Find and Learn: Students search the room, read the stations, and copy the bold SECRET CODE into their tracker.
CUT ALONG DOTS FOR STUDENT TRACKER
🔍 Student Hydration Tracker
Name: ______________________
1
Station 1 Code:
2
Station 2 Code:
3
Station 3 Code:
4
Station 4 Code:
5
Station 5 Code:
Body Fuel Lab • Science & Life Skills Page 1 of 3
Printable Stations Stations 1-3
Hydration Station Cards (Part 1)
1
The Brain Boost
When you don't drink enough water, your brain physically shrinks! This is why you get headaches and find it hard to pay attention.
SECRET CODE: FOCUS
2
The Pee Color Check
Check your urine! If it is dark yellow, you are running dry. If it is pale yellow or clear like water, your body is beautifully hydrated!
SECRET CODE: CLEAR YELLOW
3
The Sugar Crash
Soda and juices are packed with heavy refined sugars. They make you feel energized for ten minutes, but then your energy levels crash!
SECRET CODE: SUGAR TRAP
Cut along outer borders and tape around the room. Page 2 of 3
Printable Stations Stations 4-5
Hydration Station Cards (Part 2)
4
The Cool Sweat
When you run or work in the sun, your body gets hot. It releases water through your skin as sweat. As sweat dries, it cools your whole body down!
SECRET CODE: CHILL
5
Water Bottle Habits
The easiest way to drink enough water is to keep a reusable water bottle near you. Take a sip during class changes, before lunch, and during homework.
SECRET CODE: BOTTLE HACK
Laminate cards for durability across classes! Page 3 of 3
Water Tracker Worksheet UNIT: BODY FUEL LAB • SCIENCE & LIFE SKILLS LESSON 3
Name:
Date:
Hydro Tracker Lab
Let's discover if our body conductor is running high or empty!
A Dehydration Warning Signs
Draw a line from each dehydration warning sign to its body location:
🤯 Thumping Headache
🥱 Heavy Fatigue / Tired
🚽 Dark Yellow Pee
Restroom / Kidneys
Brain / Thoughts
Muscles / Focus
B Daily Hydration Cups Check
The daily healthy target is 8 cups of pure water. Color in the cups to show how many cups you drank yesterday:
1 Cup (Start) 8 Cups (Goal! 🎉)
🥛 🥛 🥛 🥛 🥛 🥛 🥛 🥛
Turn over for Part 2 Page 1 of 2
UNIT: BODY FUEL LAB • SCIENCE & LIFE SKILLS LESSON 3
C Hydration Science Check
Use the words in the word bank below to complete the hydration logic:
Water Word Bank
60% conductor sugar
1. Water is the body's main super
2. Our muscular and nervous systems are made of over
3. We should drink clear pure water instead of beverages filled with chemical
D My Water Bottle Identity
Draw stickers, write reminder slogans, or color in your custom reusable bottle below!
STSTICKER HERE 💧 GOAL: 8 CUPS
My Water Bottle Slogan:
Write a 3-word reminder to drink more water (e.g., "Stay Cool, Drink!")
How will you remember to fill your bottle tomorrow?
(Sentence Starter: "I will fill my bottle during...")
Body Fuel Lab • Daily Science Lab Reports Page 2 of 2
Smart Shopper Slides Body Fuel Lab • Lesson 4
Smart Cart
How do we navigate the grocery aisles, read labels, and stay on budget?
Grocery Decisions
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The Store Perimeter Rule
Smart Cart
The healthiest fuel foods are almost always located on the outer walls of the store.
Inside the Middle Aisles:
You'll find highly processed boxed cereals, cookies, soda, and salty chips.
🥦
Produce Section
Fresh fruits and veggies (Outer wall)
🥚
Dairy & Egg Wall
Proteins and calcium sources (Outer wall)
🥩
Meat Counter
Fresh proteins, chicken, fish (Outer wall)
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Be a Food Label Detective!
Smart Cart
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 Cup
Calories 150
Added Sugars 15g ⚠️
Sodium (Salt) 350mg ⚠️
Two Things to Avoid:
Added Sugar: Causes energy crashes and sugar traps. Look for under 5g per serving.
Sodium (Salt): High levels dehydrate you and put strain on your heart.
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Shopping on a Budget
Smart Cart
🏷️
Generic Brands
Store brands (like Great Value or Signature Select) cost 30% less than name brands, but taste identical!
📝
Follow the List
Writing your list at home prevents "impulse buys" like checkout-lane candies or cold sodas.
🌽
Frozen & Canned
Frozen veggies and canned beans last for months, cost less, and have identical body fuel value as fresh!
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Building a Smart List
Smart Cart
Prioritize Your Cart:
A smart list divides items by food category. This keeps you organized as you walk the store.
"By knowing exactly what you need before you push the cart, you master the science of grocery choices!"
Weekly List $20.00 Limit
Fresh Bananas ($1.50)
Oatmeal Tub ($2.50)
Canned Black Beans ($1.00)
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Let's Play: Aisle Champions!
Smart Cart
Shopping Combat:
You will face choice duels between different food brands and items.
Aisle Champion Card Game Body Fuel Lab • Teacher Guide Lesson 4 Activity
Aisle Champion Game
Decision-making card duels focusing on grocery choices, pricing, and label decoding.
Game Concept
Students encounter 4 "Shopping Duels". In each duel, they compare two food products (Option A vs. Option B). By checking Added Sugar , Sodium , and Price , they decide which item is the "Aisle Champion" (healthier & better value) and write their choice.
Activity Facilitation
1
Print and Cut: Print Pages 2 & 3 containing the four Choice Duel cards. Cut along the dashed lines.
2
Compare Products: Have students work in pairs. Give them Duel Card 1. Direct them to read the specifications out loud (e.g. Price, Sugar, Sodium).
3
Vote & Explain: Ask: "Which food is the better fuel choice?" and "Which brand saves us dollars?" Let them make a final choice and crown the champion!
Learning Outcomes
Financial Literacy: Realizing store-brand (generic) products are cheaper than heavily advertised name-brand options.Label Skills: Identifying "Added Sugars" as a major hazard to daily energy stamina.Social Communication: Expressing preferences and scientific reasons during team debates.
Active Variation
Aisle Run: Place Option A cards on the left side of the room and Option B cards on the right. Have students walk to the side of the room representing the healthiest product choice!
Body Fuel Lab • Science & Life Skills Page 1 of 3
Role Play Assets Duels 1 & 2
Shopping Duel Cards
Cut along the dashed lines. Lamination suggested for classroom use.
Shopping Duel #1 Breakfast Aisle
🥣 Option A
Choco-Puffs Cereal
• Price: $5.50 (Name Brand)
• Sugar: 16g Added Sugar
• Sodium: 180mg
🌾 Option B
Plain Rolled Oats
• Price: $2.20 (Store Brand)
• Sugar: 0g Added Sugar
• Sodium: 0mg
Goal: Find the food with LESS added sugar and LOWER price!
Shopping Duel #2 Snack Aisle
🍟 Option A
Super-Salty Potato Chips
• Price: $4.80 (Name Brand)
Smart Shopper Worksheet UNIT: BODY FUEL LAB • SCIENCE & LIFE SKILLS LESSON 4
Name:
Date:
Smart Shopper Lab
Let's decode product label values and navigate the supermarket like professionals!
A Where Does It Live?
Circle whether each healthy food is found on the Outer Perimeter (Wall) or the Middle Aisles :
🥦 Fresh Broccoli
Outer Perimeter Middle Aisle
🥚 Boiled Eggs
Outer Perimeter Middle Aisle
🥫 Canned Kidney Beans
Outer Perimeter Middle Aisle
B Generic Brand Savings Math
Subtract the generic brand price from the name brand price to find your savings:
Item Food type Name Brand Price Generic Store Price My Saved Dollars ($) 🥣 Breakfast Oats $5.00 $2.00 $___________ 🍿 Light Popcorn $4.50 $1.50 $___________ 🍞 Whole Wheat Bread $3.80 $1.80 $___________
Turn over for Part 2 Page 1 of 2
UNIT: BODY FUEL LAB • SCIENCE & LIFE SKILLS LESSON 4
C Label Decoding Check
Use the words in the word bank below to fill in the smart shopping rules:
Label Word Bank
sugar sodium generic
1. On labels, we check the salt content by looking at the amount of
2. To protect our daily energy levels, we choose items with low added
3. We save lots of grocery money when we buy store brands, also called
D My $10.00 Cart Expedition
Look at the price listings below. Select exactly 3 items to build a dinner, and verify that the total is less than $10.00 !
🍗
Chicken
$4.00
🍚
Rice
$2.00
🥦
Broccoli
$1.50
🍌
Bananas
$1.00
🥛
Milk Carton
$1.50
My 3 Dinner Items:
My Dinner Cost Math:
(Add the three prices together: e.g. $4.00 + $2.00 + $1.50 = $7.50)
Write calculations and total cost here
Why is this $10 dinner a high quality fuel combination?
