Watch a Key Stage 3 class use the News Report video, based around a fictional TV news story, in a secondary science and PSHE lesson encouraging students to discuss the science linking health and diet.
Dan Hanard, a physics teacher at Woodkirk High School, Wakefield, delivers the lesson to a group of Year 8 students, using the lesson plan, video and text-based resources provided. Science education expert Matthew Tosh provides analysis of how the lesson went.
The students watch the fictional TV news report about a proposed ban on for under 16s on the consumption of certain foods, like burgers, chips, fizzy drinks and some pizzas.
Dan organises the students into small groups to consider the arguments put forward by the people interviewed in the news report. He's pleased at the scientific evidence the students bring to the debate.
At the end of the lesson, the students decide in their groups whether or not they would support the ban and outline their reasons to the rest of the class.
This lesson can also be taught at Key Stage 4.
Downloads
News Report KS3/4 Lesson CPD PowerPoint Slides (Powerpoint 233984 Kb)
CPD PowerPoint for teachers for the News Report lesson at Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4
Useful websites
Department of Health: Diet and nutrition surveys
The Department of Health is responsible for nutrition policy (since 1st October 2010)
The Food Standards Agency: Healthier eating
The Food Standards Agency was responsible for nutrition policy until 1 October 2010. See this link for archived information on nutrition
The School Food Trust: Research projects
The School Food Trust is an independent body with the unique remit of transforming school food and food skills
Fast Food Nation: Fast food facts and figures
FastFoodNation offers a unique reference point on fast food, our health and the alternatives
This website provides free resources to teach about healthy eating, cooking, food and farming from 3 to 16 years
The Economist: Economist debates, food policy
A debate as to whether the government should play a stronger role in guiding food and nutrition choices
The Guardian: Food and health - who has the guts to take on junk fare?
An article in The Guardian detailing how the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) educates consumers about what they're eating and curb some of the food industry's excesses
