Minds On
Healthy choices
Let's explore this video entitled ”Healthy Eating” to learn more about making healthy choices.
Brainstorm
Let's think!
After exploring healthy choices with Akin, how might someone feel differently if they ate a snack made with fruits and vegetables, or a sugary snack?
Record your thoughts in a notebook or another method of your choice.
Action
Legal & illegal
Chemicals that we eat or drink that change how we act and feel are called substances.
Some substances are helpful while others are harmful.
In other words, certain substances are legal, and some are illegal.
Did You Know?
Did you know?
Legal means that an act or a substance is not against the law.
For example: It is legal to cross the street only when the walk signal is on.
Illegal means that an act or a substance is against the law for us.
For example: Stealing something that belongs to someone is illegal.
Some substances may be illegal for children but not for people that are older.
For example: It is not illegal for people over the age of 19 to drink alcohol.
For example: Stealing something that belongs to someone is illegal.
Substances
Explore the following items:
Different alcoholic drinks
A variety of pastries and sweet treats.
Coffee
Energy drinks
Soda
Cigarette and vape
After exploring the images:
- Which substances do you think are legal?
- Which substances do you think are illegal for children?
Complete the Legal & Illegal Substances Activity in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.
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Legal substances |
Illegal substances for children |
|---|---|
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Press the ‘Activity’ button to go to the Legal & Illegal Substances Activity.
Pause and Reflect
Pause and reflect
Why do you think there were pictures of pop, energy drinks, coffee, and candy? How are they substances?
Record your ideas in a notebook or another method of your choice.
Press 'Hint' to explore a detail about substances.
Effects
All substances have chemicals in them that change how we act and feel and could create a dependency in our body.
Dependency means that the body feels like it needs it. The body starts to crave it.
Sugar and caffeine are chemicals that give you energy that only lasts for a little while, but then it makes someone very tired. Instead of sleeping, the body tells the person to take more sugar and caffeine to get through their day.
Alcohol and cigarettes also have chemicals that change the way the body reacts. Someone can become dependent on these substances over time.
Brainstorm
Too many?
Energy drinks, pop, and sports drinks are not illegal substances, but consuming too much of them can still lead to possible issues.
What possible issues might be associated with drinking too much of these kinds of drinks?
Record your thoughts in a notebook or another method of your choice.
How does it affect you?
Different alcoholic drinks
A variety of pastries and sweet treats.
Coffee
Energy drinks
Soda
Cigarette and vape
- Let's revisit the images we explored before. Pick three of the substances in the images.
- Respond to the following question:
- How could these substances affect your body and others around you?
Record your thoughts using any method of your choice.
If possible, share your ideas with a partner.
Consolidation
Learning check!
For each term, select its matching definition.
Student Success
Think-Pair-Share
It is important to understand the difference between legal and illegal substances.
Making healthy choices will help you to stay safe, and to feel great.
With a partner, if possible, consider the following scenario:
Learner A is at a friend's place. They offer a sugary, caffeinated cola to Learner A.
Learner A knows it has a lot of sugar and that it is unhealthy. Learner A also knows that they are not supposed to drink sugary colas.
What should Learner A do? What should Learner A say?
Record your ideas and suggestions in a notebook or another method of your choice.
Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.
Reflection
How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel…
Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.