Grade 4

Carbohydrates

Activity: Health Portion Sizes and

Goals/Key questions
Goals: Students will learn how to judge the serving size of a food group. Students
will learn the difference between complex carbohydrates and
simple carbohydrates and value the nutritional value of complex
carbohydrates.
Objective (connected to PofS): analyze the need for variety and moderation in a
balanced diet

Pre lesson Considerations

Lesson overview of main ideas to be learned and prelearning required:
Materials needed/preset up required/logistical considerations needed
(seating arrangement):
Pre-made groups by teacher
Plastic cups (approx. 250mL)
Erasers
Hockey Pucks
Tennis Balls

Content:
What is the teacher
doing?

Introduct
ion
Time
estimation:
10 minutes
Transition
considerat

Give students 10 minutes to

finish worksheets from last
class. Have students that
missed last class meet at
the back table and explain
the worksheet and food
guide.
Make sure the food guide is
on the SMART board:
Invite students to hand in
their worksheet at the front

What are the students doing?

ions

Activity 1
Time est:25
minutes

Transition
considerat
ions

Activity 2

of the class and meet on

the carpet. Inform students
that the next activity
involves the SMART board
and students will be chosen
to participate based on their
ability to move to the carpet
quietly and sit in a spot that
is best for their learning.
Serving sizes:
*note the difference
between portion sizes and
serving sizes.
Watch the video on the
Flames SMART notebook on
portion sizes. Do the sorting
activity with the class and
check their answers with
them. Allow students to
move the objects on the
SMART board to the
appropriate place.
Serving Sizes Activity:
Students will be put in
groups of 3 (predetermined) and given
objects like a hockey puck,
eraser, cup (approx.
250mL). Students will be
given a list of foods and
have to guess which
manipulative is the proper
serving size of each food.
When transitioning from the
carpet back to the table
groups, inform students that
groups will be invited to get
their objects once they
show that they are ready
(cleared desk, sitting
quietly)
Simple Carbohydrates vs.
Complex Carbohydrates

*Groups will have the objects taken

away if they use them inappropriately
(ex. Throwing, bouncing etc.)

Time Est:
25 minutes

Watch the video in the

SMART notebook.
Question: What is a
carbohydrate?
Question: What is the
difference between a
complex carbohydrate and
a simple carbohydrate?
On the SMART board, list
students 10 favourite
carbohydrates. Try to
ensure there is a mix of
simple carbs and complex
carbs. As a class, identify
which carbs are complex vs.
simple. Allow students to
use the SMART board to
check off each category.
Activity:
In the same groups,
students will be given a
worksheet with different
types of carbohydrates
listed. Students will sort
each item into the
appropriate category on a Tchart, simple carbohydrates
vs. complex carbohydrates.

Conclusio
n

What is in a serving size?

With your group, examine the objects on your table and determine which
object best represents the serving size of the food listed on the table below.
Food
Cheese

Eraser

Cup

Hockey
Puck

Salad

Salmon

Yogurt

Spaghetti

Cooked Carrots

Apple

Milk

Orange Juice
Peanut Butter

*
*

Tofu
Soy Milk

*
*

Dinner Bun
Hamburger Patty

Tennis
Ball

What is in a serving size?

With your group, examine the objects on your table and determine which
object best represents the serving size of the food listed on the table below.
Place a checkmark in the appropriate box.
Food
Cheese
Salad
Salmon
Yogurt
Spaghetti
Cooked Carrots
Apple
Milk
Orange Juice
Peanut Butter
Tofu
Soy Milk
Dinner Bun
Hamburger Patty

Eraser

Cup

Hockey
Puck

Tennis
Ball

Complex Carbohydrates vs. Simple Carbohydrates

The following foods are examples of carbohydrates. With your group, discuss
whether each food is a complex or simple carbohydrate. Write the food in the
appropriate category on the chart.

Complex Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates:
Maple syrup
Lettuce
Bread
Peas
Honey
Potatoes
Corn

White Rice
Candy

Pickles
White

Apples
Fruit juice
Whole Grain Bread
Whole Wheat Pasta

Chocolate
Oatmeal
Cake

Simple Carbohydrates