Time

Concept

Activity

5 minutes

20 minutes

5 minutes

Motivational Opener:

In our society, physical beauty has always been viewed as a very important aspect for males and females that sets people a part from one another.  Many of today’s famous people are looked at with high standards because of their physical appearance.  One group of people that is highly influenced and affected by the appearances of famous people is today’s youth. Because of this, many more teenagers are trying their hardest to look exactly like their favorite celebrity, which, in turn, can lead to problems including eating disorders.  This introductory activity allows the students to discuss their feelings about how society can stereotype the “perfect” man and woman and how this affects teenagers today.

*Reference:  Resource packet – Melanie Lynch, M.Ed. “Let’s Have Fun in Health Class Today.”  State College Area High School    

Lesson Body:

After sharing their feelings about how society can be stereotypical with physical appearance, the students should be informed about the different eating disorders and other health problems that can occur from placing outer beauty as an extremely high standard.  Through self-directed stations, the students will work in small groups to discuss the different disorders that highlight the main points in today’s lesson:  anorexia and bulimia, overweight and obesity, and excessive exercise.  There is also a station that talks about the different guidelines for healthy weight management.  Because the teacher is not lecturing the class, the students will have to rely on their group members to help them learn the information that is given about healthy weight management and the disorders that can occur if weight management is taken to an extreme.  Each student should have a turn to ask the questions at each station as well as answer the questions being asked.  During the station work, the teacher will act as a facilitator to help the groups when needed as well as keep the students on-task.

*References:

-Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc.  Last updated February 2005.  www.anred.com

- Health Teacher.  “Physical Activity for Weight Management”  Copyright 2004.  www.healthteacher.com

-Mayo Clinic Staff.  “Fitness and Exercise – What’s It All About?”  Mayo Clinic.  November 6, 2003.  www.mayoclinic.com

 -“Station Work in the Classroom.”  Dr. Linda Klingaman

Lesson Conclusion:

Once the students have been given the chance to discuss the different extremes of weight management and what healthy weight management consists of, a concluding discussion period about healthy weight management should help tie in the major points of the lesson.  By asking them a critical thinking question about healthy weight management, the students should be able to take their knowledge of healthy weight management and their feelings towards the affects of physical appearance on teenagers and come up with a well-rounded answer to the question being asked.

- The teacher will pass out the worksheet located with the lesson plan titled “Society’s Standards of Beauty” to each student.

- The students will be in their own seats filling out the worksheet. After about 3 minutes, the teacher should ask what some of the students filled in the spaces for physical attributes for females and males.

Questions to ask the students:

1. Do you think society views physical beauty as a more important factor than inner beauty? Why or why not?

2. How can these viewpoints harm people?

3. As teenagers, how affected are you by how celebrities look and act?

4. What extremes might teenagers go to in order to look like celebrities today, physically, socially?  Would these extremes affect them mentally?

- The teacher should tell the students that they will be discussing the proper guidelines for healthy weight management and some of the extremes that happen to people who do not follow the healthy steps to losing or maintaining their weight.

-The students should count off by 4’s to form 4 groups of 4 people. One group may have 5.

- The teacher should explain to the students that they will be peer teaching each other in small groups using an activity called “Ask Dr. Phil.”  Each group member should get a chance to become Dr. Phil.

- There will be 4 different stations (anorexia/bulimia, overweight/obesity, excessive physical activity, and healthy weight management).  Stations around the room will be set up for each group.  Information is included about each aspect on the handouts.  The note cards that include the questions needed to be asked are located in the attached envelope titled “Note Cards for Weight Management.”  Each note card is labeled for each station.

-The teacher should assign each group number to a station.

-Once the groups are set, the students should assign a person to be Dr. Phil.

-Those students who are not Dr. Phil will each have a note card with 1-3 questions on them. These students will take turns asking “Dr. Phil” the questions.

-“Dr. Phil” will use the handouts provided to answer the questions the other group members ask.

-After 5 minutes, the teacher should notify the groups to rotate to the next station.  The group should assign a new Dr. Phil to answer the questions at the next station.  

-A discussion period about the lesson will take place to see the students’ viewpoints on healthy weight management.  The teacher should help them view the question asked about weight management as universal, as they could apply it to a variety of teenagers (example: a friend who exercises too much or a peer who is overweight).

-The students will think and reflect on the following question as a group:

“In your own opinion, what do you think could/should be done to help all teenagers follow a healthy weight management plan?”  The students should be reminded of the diversity of people and their body types.

-The teacher should write the students’ answers on the marker board to generate a list.

-After the discussion period, the students will have a homework assignment to complete for the next class period.  This worksheet is included with the lesson plan and is titled “Healthy Weight Management.”

- If there is time left, the students are allowed to begin the assignment.

Critical Element

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

Students identified at least four guidelines on their homework assignment about healthy weight management.

Students expressed their feelings about how society conveys physical beauty and their affects on teenagers.

Students described the physical, social, and mental affects that teenagers may go through in order to “perfect” their outer self.

Students worked cooperatively in groups discussing healthy weight management and the extremes of losing/gaining/maintaining weight.

Students generated a list of how teenagers with weight management problems should be treated and helped.