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KS3 PSHE Lesson Plan

Better balance

Learning outcomes To discuss the new standards for food in schools

To explore why the standards have been introduced
To appreciate the relevant personal benefits of the new standards

Organisation Whole class and individual activities

Resources School Food Trust training module – DOWNLOAD HERE

PowerPoint presentation – DOWNLOAD HERE
Video – Eat better, Do better series – DOWNLOAD HERE
Parents’ leaflet – DOWNLOAD HERE

Worksheets ‘A better balance’ worksheet – DOWNLOAD HERE

‘Benefits’ worksheet – DOWNLOAD HERE/Interactive whiteboard resource –
DOWNLOAD HERE
Design-a-dish

Preparation Complete the School Food Trust teacher training module – DOWNLOAD HERE
Download all necessary resources and worksheets (above)
Photocopy worksheets (as required) enough for one per pupil
Familiarise yourself with the interactive activity if you are using the whiteboard
Ensure that the power point presentation is ready to use on your computer or is
printed out on acetates
Photocopy the ‘Design a dish’ handout enough for one per pupil

Differentiation Support – Some pupils may need additional help assigning foods to the
appropriate food groups in the Balance of Good Health.
Extension – Pupils may like to assess their own diet at school in relation to the
Balance of Good Health

Assessment/observations By completing the worksheets and/or taking part in the whiteboard activity pupils
will demonstrate their understanding of the new school standards.
The review session will provide a further opportunity to assess the pupils’
knowledge and understanding.

Curriculum links PSHE

Developing a healthy, safer lifestyle
2b. how to keep healthy and what influences health, including the media
2d. basic facts and laws, including school rules, about alcohol and tobacco,
illegal substances and the risks of misusing prescribed drugs
2f. to recognise and manage risk and make safer choices about healthy lifestyles,
different environments and travel

‘At home’ activity ‘Design a dish’ handout


Organisation/key points
This plan can be adapted for use over 2 lessons
Introduction to the session
Activity – A better balance
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KS3 PSHE Lesson Plan
Better balance
Diagram/ Time taken
activity
Explain to the class that this lesson is 15 minutes
about the new standards for food in
schools. It is important that pupils who
bring packed lunches are not excluded
so you should ensure your discussion
includes foods that are relevant to all
and fit with your school food policy.
Use the ‘New school food standards’
PowerPoint/overheads to expand
on details of the new standards with
the pupils.
Following the presentation, ask the
pupils for their opinions on the changes
to food in schools.
Briefly remind the pupils of the principles 15 minutes
of a balanced diet using the Balance of
Good Health plate model (BOGH).
Paper-based activity
Using the ‘Better balance’ worksheets,
ask the pupils to again compare the old
school menu with the new standards
menu, but this time, ask them to sort
the foods and drinks listed into the
appropriate food groups in the blank
BOGH plates.
Ask them to consider how the balance
of the food groups differs between the
two menus.
Emphasise that the new standards
are designed to improve the balance
of pupils’ diets during the school day.
In particular, draw attention to the
reduction in food and drink from the
‘foods containing fat, foods containing
sugar’ group (e.g. chocolate, crisps and
fizzy drinks) and the increase in fruit
and vegetables. You can also point out
that the type of food available within
the groups has improved i.e. the turkey
burgers replaced by chicken casserole.
As an extension activity, pupils could
also look at the balance of their own diets
during a school day. This can be used as
an opportunity to examine differences in
cultural/religious aspects of eating and
how these are catered for under the
new standards.

Activity – Benefits
Whole class discussion
Video (optional – dependent on
time available)
At home activity
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KS3 PSHE Lesson Plan
Better balance
Paper-based/whiteboard activity 10 minutes
Using either the paper-based activity
or the whiteboard game, ask the pupils
to complete the statements on the
potential benefits of the new standards.
Encourage the pupils to think of more
benefits of their own.
Place emphasis on the short-term
benefits of a better balanced diet
(e.g. feeling and looking good, better
concentration) rather than on long-term
health (e.g. heart disease) as pupils will
find these more relevant to them.
Review the new standards with the 5 minutes
pupils. In the light of what they have
learnt, ask the pupils what their views
on the new food standards are now.
Have they changed?
Show the pupils the School Food 15 minutes
Trust video
Inform pupils about their at-home
activity.
Give out the parents’ leaflet and
the handout on the ‘Design a dish’
activity for pupils and parents to
complete at home.
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KS3 PSHE Lesson Plan

Lesson evaluation

Did the children enjoy

the session?

Did you meet the session

aims and learning intentions?

What worked well

and why?

What did not work

so well, and why?

What would you do

differently next time?

Notes/areas for action