Understanding & Analysing Task

Week 1 — 60 minutes

National Curriculum Links (England)

• Key Stage 4 Science (Year 10)
• Working scientifically: “analyse and interpret data and present findings”
• Biology (Paper 2): Nutrition and health, including nutritional needs at different life stages, and the impact of diet on health (National Curriculum, Programme of Study)
• Practical skills: Applying knowledge to assess tasks and carry out investigations (Non-Exam Assessment 2 - NEA2)

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Learning Objectives (WALT)

• WALT: Understand and analyse the NEA 2 task
• Analyse key words and requirements within a science investigation task
• Explain the nutritional needs of teenagers and how fruit & vegetables contribute to health outcomes

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Success Criteria (WILF)

• I can identify and highlight key words in the NEA 2 task
• I can explain the specific nutritional needs of teenagers (e.g. iron, calcium, vitamin C, fibre, energy)
• I can link fruit and vegetable consumption to positive health outcomes such as reduced deficiencies and better energy levels

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Timings & Activities

Starter (10 minutes)

Activity: Highlight and Discuss Key Words

• Distribute printed copies of the NEA 2 task brief with dyslexia-friendly font (e.g., Arial or Comic Sans, size 14+, double spaced) and pastel-coloured paper to reduce visual stress.
• Students use highlighter pens to mark key words and phrases (e.g., "encourage", "fruit & veg", "teenage nutritional needs", "health outcomes").
• In pairs, discuss what the instruction word "encourage" means in the context of food and nutrition (prompt: How might you 'encourage' teenagers to eat healthily?).
• Share definitions/explanations as a class to build a shared understanding.

Differentiation:

• Provide key word lists and sentence starters for EAL/dyslexic learners.
• Use oral discussion to support those who struggle with reading.
• Provide a checklist of common instruction words and their meanings.

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Main Task 1 (15 minutes)

Task: Complete a Task Analysis Grid

• Students fill in a grid designed to break down the NEA 2 task into components:

NEA 2 Task Component	Key Words	What the task requires me to do	Questions or challenges I foresee

• Encourage analytical thinking by prompting students to consider WHY certain words are critical and HOW they affect the approach to the task.
• Model an example with the whole class first (e.g., "Identify": means extract specific info; "Encourage": implies promoting behaviour rather than forcing).

Differentiation:

• Provide sentence starters for lower ability groups or those with literacy difficulties.
• Allow ICT use for word processing the grid for those with fine motor difficulties.

Extension:

• Challenge advanced learners to suggest possible hypotheses or strategies for investigation based on task wording.

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Main Task 2 (20 minutes)

Teacher Explanation & Student Note-Taking

• Teacher-led explanation of key nutritional terms related to teenagers from the curriculum, with clear definitions and examples:

Nutrient/Concept	Role in Teenage Health	Food Sources (focus on fruit & veg)	Impact of Deficiency
Iron	Needed for blood oxygen transport; prevents anaemia	Spinach, peas	Fatigue, poor concentration
Calcium	Bone growth and strength	Broccoli, kale	Weak bones, risk of fractures
Vitamin C	Immune function, iron absorption	Citrus fruits	Higher infection risk
Fibre	Digestive health, prevents constipation	Apples, carrots	Digestive issues
Energy needs	High due to growth and activity	Balanced diet	Poor growth, fatigue
5-a-day	General health, reduces disease risk	Variety of fresh, canned & frozen fruit/veg	Increased chronic disease risk

• Support notes with colourful infographics and mnemonic aids.
• Students write a short paragraph (5-7 sentences) explaining why many teenagers fail to eat enough fruit and vegetables. Use prompts like: peer pressure, taste preferences, cost, availability.

Differentiation:

• Provide a template paragraph with gaps for less confident writers.
• Use visuals and word banks for dyslexic learners.
• Pair-share explanations before writing to aid verbal learners.

Extension:

• Invite advanced learners to incorporate recent statistics or research data they know on teenage nutrition.

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Plenary (10 minutes)

Class Discussion & Reflection

• Share some student paragraphs aloud; encourage positive feedback.
• Revisit the WALT & success criteria: self-assessment using thumbs up/down or traffic lights on:
  • Identifying key words
  • Explaining teenage nutritional needs
  • Linking fruit and vegetable intake with health
• Clarify any misconceptions.
• Outline homework and check understanding.

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Homework (to be completed before next lesson)

• Research and list 5 common fruit and vegetable related nutrient deficiencies in UK teenagers (e.g. iron deficiency anaemia, vitamin C deficiency).
• Identify and describe 3 popular trends among teenagers related to nutrition (e.g. veganism, juice cleanses, snacking culture).
• Prepare to discuss findings in next session.

Homework support:

• Provide a list of suggested websites/books for guided research strategy.
• Encourage mind-mapping or note-taking techniques for easier recall.

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Additional Strategies for Diverse Learners

• Dyslexia-friendly reading: Use larger fonts, clear layout with lots of white space, pastel coloured paper. Avoid italics or underlining; use bold for emphasis.
• Visual aids: Infographics and charts to clarify complex info.
• Oral instructions: Repeat and rephrase key points, use checklists.
• Peer support: Pair higher-ability learners with peers to scaffold understanding.
• ICT options: Allow voice-to-text or screen readers for written tasks.

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Extension Activities for Advanced Learners

• Design a mini poster explaining how fruit and vegetable intake reduces the risk of specific diseases.
• Evaluate the impact of social media and marketing on teenage dietary choices and propose ways to “encourage” healthier habits.
• Explore and briefly present on micronutrients beyond the main 5 discussed (e.g. magnesium, folate).

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This lesson plan ensures engagement, accessibility, and comprehensive understanding in line with the English National Curriculum for Year 10 Science. It equips students with analytical skills necessary to tackle NEA 2 tasks confidently, while enriching their knowledge of teenage nutrition and health.