Fueling an Athlete

Grade Level

10th Grade

Duration

45 minutes

Subject

Health / Exercise Science

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Apply critical thinking to create a balanced and nutrient-rich grocery list within a budget that supports an elite high school athlete's performance goals.
• Analyze nutritional labels and ingredient lists to evaluate food choices based on macronutrient needs (protein, carbohydrates, fats).
• Use math skills to manage a virtual grocery budget and make strategic decisions about nutrition and cost.

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Common Core State Standards Alignment

Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects (RST)

• RST.9-10.1: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts.
• RST.9-10.3: Follow precisely a complex multi-step procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks.

Mathematics Standards

• CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSN.Q.A.1: Use units as a way to understand problems and to guide the solution of multi-step problems; choose and interpret units consistently in formulas.

Writing Standards

• W.9-10.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas clearly and accurately.

Speaking & Listening Standards

• SL.9-10.1: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions.

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Materials

• Virtual grocery store platform access on computers/devices (or printable mock-ups if tech is limited)
• Budget worksheet (provided by teacher)
• Nutrition fact labels/resources
• Calculators
• Dyslexia-friendly nutrition reading handouts (simplified font, clear formatting, infographics)

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Lesson Outline

1. Introduction & Context Setting (5 minutes)

• Discuss briefly the importance of nutrition in sports performance.
• Present the challenge: "You are nutritionists tasked with fueling an elite high school athlete with specific dietary needs and a limited budget."
• Introduce the budget amount and the athlete’s dietary requirements (e.g., high protein, moderate carbs, low saturated fats).

2. Instruction & Modeling (7 minutes)

• Review how to read nutrition labels, focusing on serving size, macronutrients, and ingredients in the context of athletic performance.
• Show an example of budgeting and selecting foods that maximize nutritional value within cost constraints.
• Employ think-aloud to demonstrate decision-making.

3. Virtual Grocery Shopping Activity (20 minutes)

• Students work individually or in pairs to complete a virtual grocery shopping simulation with a preset budget (e.g., $50).
• They compile a grocery list for one week that meets the athlete’s needs.
• Use calculators for tallying costs and nutritional breakdowns.
• Encourage students to justify their choices based on nutrition facts and budget constraints.

4. Group Discussion & Reflection (8 minutes)

• Students share their grocery lists and reasoning in small groups (3-4 students).
• Groups discuss challenges faced, compromises made, and strategies used.
• Teacher facilitates highlighting good practices and common misconceptions.

5. Wrap-Up & Assessment (5 minutes)

• Prompt students to write a brief explanation summarizing their choices - why they selected certain foods and how these support the athlete’s performance.
• Collect worksheets and summaries for formative assessment.

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Differentiation Strategies

• For Diverse Learners:

  • Provide dyslexia-friendly reading handouts with larger font, clear spacing, and visuals to explain nutrition terms.
  • Allow extra time on the virtual supermarket task or break into smaller steps.
  • Use pair or group work to peer support math or reading challenges.

• For Advanced Learners:

  • Challenge to develop a weekly meal plan including meals and snacks using their grocery list.
  • Ask them to calculate macronutrient percentages and compare to recommended athletic guidelines.
  • Investigate the effect of food timing around workouts.

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Success Criteria

• Students can identify nutrient content from labels relevant to athletic health.
• Shopping list stays within budget while maximizing nutrition for athlete's performance.
• Ability to justify choices using data from nutrition information and budget calculations.
• Participation in discussion with critical thinking applied to compromise between cost and nutrition.
• Written summary explains their rationale clearly and accurately.

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Extension Activities

• Create a digital presentation comparing their grocery lists and explaining the trade-offs affecting athletic performance.
• Research specific sports nutrition needs for different sports (e.g., endurance vs. power athletes) and adjust grocery list accordingly.
• Design a promotional pamphlet educating peers on budget-friendly, athlete-approved nutrition tips.

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Dyslexia-Friendly Reading Options

• Use sans-serif fonts (e.g., Arial, Verdana) in handouts.
• Limit text per page/slide and include icons or images to represent key concepts.
• Highlight key vocabulary in bold and provide a glossary with simple definitions.
• Allow audio versions of instructions/nutrition information if technology permits.

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This lesson plan integrates nutrition literacy, budgeting skills, and collaborative learning to engage 10th graders in real-world exercise science applications while meeting key Common Core standards. It’s designed to be interactive, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating.