Lesson Plan | Teachy Methodology | Biochemistry: Vitamins and Minerals

Objectives

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

This stage of the lesson plan aims to contextualize the main objectives of the lesson, providing a clear and specific view of what is expected for students to learn and develop during the lesson. It serves to align the expectations of both the teacher and the students, ensuring that everyone is aware of the educational goals and the direction of the learning.

Main Objectives

1. Understand what vitamins and minerals are and the importance of these nutrients for the human body.

2. Identify the symptoms and effects of deficiencies and excesses of vitamins and minerals in the body.

Introduction

Duration: 15 - 20 minutes

This stage aims to spark students' interest and promote a collaborative learning environment. By researching and sharing interesting facts, students become more engaged and connected to the topic. The key questions will serve as a starting point for an initial discussion, helping consolidate and contextualize the knowledge they have previously acquired.

Warming Up

Start the class by briefly introducing the topic Vitamins and Minerals. Explain that these nutrients are essential for the proper functioning of the human body. Ask students to use their phones to look up an interesting fact about vitamins or minerals and share it with the class. This initial moment will allow them to share their prior knowledge and engage with the topic.

Initial Reflections

1. What are the main functions of vitamins and minerals in the human body?

2. What are the common symptoms of a deficiency of a specific vitamin?

3. What can happen if there is an excess of a mineral in the body?

4. How can we obtain these vitamins and minerals in our daily diet?

5. Do you know of any famous or historical cases related to vitamin and mineral deficiencies or excesses?

Development

Duration: 75 - 85 minutes

This stage aims to provide active and engaging learning about vitamins and minerals. Through creative and interactive activities, students will be able to apply the knowledge gained in a practical, collaborative, and contextualized manner in the modern digital reality. This allows for a deeper and lasting understanding of the biological concepts in question.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended that only one of the suggested activities be carried out

Activity 1 - Nutrition Digital Influencer 

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Empower students to communicate the importance of vitamins and minerals in a modern and engaging way, using research and digital content production skills.

- Description: Students will create a digital influencer profile focused on nutrition, highlighting the importance of vitamins and minerals in the diet, as well as the effects of their deficiency or excess in the body. They should produce posts and stories for a fictional social media platform, using images and videos.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Each group must choose one vitamin and one mineral to focus on.

• Use phones and computers to research relevant images, videos, and information.

• Create posts and stories as if they were digital influencers, highlighting the importance of the chosen nutrients.

• Use online tools like Canva or Adobe Spark to create attractive visuals.

• At the end, each group will present their 'campaign' to the class, highlighting the main points addressed.

Activity 2 - Interactive Board Game: Vitamins and Minerals 

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Promote students' understanding of vitamins and minerals through a fun and interactive activity, encouraging collaboration and critical thinking.

- Description: Students will create an interactive board game in which they will have to answer questions and perform challenges about vitamins and minerals to advance on the board. They will use apps like Kahoot! and Quizlet to create digital questions and challenges.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Each group must create a physical board using cardboard, poster board, or other materials.

• Use apps like Kahoot! and Quizlet to create questions and challenges related to vitamins and minerals.

• Include spaces on the board where players need to answer questions or perform challenges to advance.

• Groups can swap their boards and play the games created by other groups.

• At the end, each group will explain how they created their games and discuss the main learnings.

Activity 3 - Scientific Mission on Instagram 

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Engage students in a realistic simulation of scientific research, encouraging the communication of biochemical concepts in a creative and accessible manner through social media.

- Description: Students will simulate a scientific mission in a biochemistry laboratory and document their findings about vitamins and minerals through Instagram posts. Each group will create a series of educational posts, including short videos and image carousels.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Each group will simulate a scientific mission, focusing on a specific vitamin and mineral.

• Use phones and computers to research relevant information and data.

• Create posts for an Instagram series, including short explanatory videos, image carousels, and infographics.

• Use apps like InShot or iMovie to edit videos and Canva to create infographics.

• At the end, each group will present their series of posts to the class, highlighting the main insights and learnings.

Feedback

Duration: 20 - 25 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to promote a collective reflection on the learnings acquired during the class. Group discussion allows students to share different perspectives and consolidate their knowledge. The 360° feedback fosters the development of interpersonal skills and self-evaluation abilities, encouraging a collaborative and respectful learning environment.

Group Discussion

Promote a group discussion with all students. Each group should share what they learned during the activities and the conclusions they reached. Use the following script to introduce the discussion:

Introduction: Start by highlighting the importance of sharing different perspectives and learnings. Explain that each group will have the opportunity to present their findings. Group Presentations: Call one group at a time to present their findings about the vitamin and mineral they studied. Clarifying Questions: After each presentation, open the floor for questions from other students. Encourage everyone to participate. Final Synthesis: At the end, summarize the main findings shared by the groups, highlighting common points and significant differences.

Reflections

1. What were the most surprising discoveries about vitamins and minerals that you researched? 2. How can knowledge about the deficiency and excess of these nutrients impact our daily food choices? 3. In what ways did today's activities help consolidate your knowledge about biochemistry?

360° Feedback

Instruct students to conduct a 360° feedback step. Each student should give and receive feedback from their group mates. Guide the class to keep the feedback constructive and respectful. Use the following script to guide the feedback:

Positive Feedback: Ask each student to highlight a positive aspect of each peer's work. What was well done? What contributed significantly to the group? Areas for Improvement: Ask each student to suggest an area where their peer can improve. How could they be more effective in the next activity? Appreciation: Encourage students to thank their peers for their work and collaboration, reinforcing an environment of respect and mutual support.

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

[Purpose] This stage aims to synthesize the knowledge acquired during the lesson, reinforcing the importance of the topic in a light and memorable way. It also seeks to contextualize learning within the modern reality and highlight its practical applications, ensuring that students leave the lesson with a clear and applicable understanding. 

Summary

[Summary]  Let's recall the main points in a fun way: Imagine the human body as an orchestra, with each vitamin and mineral as a musician. The vitamins (composers) write the symphony of health, while the minerals (instrumentalists) play their essential notes. When everyone plays together, our body works in perfect harmony! If vitamins or minerals are missing, our 'music' can be out of tune, causing health problems. But be careful, excess can also throw things off-key! 

World Connection

[In the World]  In this modern dynamic where social media and instant information are part of our daily lives, understanding the biochemistry of our bodies helps us filter the health tips we see online. The lesson connects these essential understandings with our digital reality, allowing us to use this information to make more conscious and healthier choices in everyday life. 易

Practical Application

[Applications]  Knowing about vitamins and minerals is crucial for maintaining a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. Understanding the signs of deficiency and the dangers of excess allows us to adjust our eating habits proactively, preventing diseases and promoting overall well-being. 