*Learners should have exposure to basic HUMAN BODY SYSTEMS before taking this course (contact me if you'd like a link to my courses which have this content)*

Benefits of FLEX classes combined with NEARPOD interactive activity slides:
*Learners work at their own pace.
*Learners are held accountable for learning the material by interacting with Nearpod activities slides between teacher instruction video clips. 
*Teacher feedback is given based on Nearpod activity slides, so parents know that learners have learned the material.

Come explore ALL THINGS NUTRITION with video instruction and a one-day meal plan project encompassing all of the required nutrients! This course will cover the following topics: macronutrients (carbohydrates, fat, protein), micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), and common diets that people choose (with an emphasis on a whole foods, balanced diet based on current MyPlate dietary recommendations developed by the USDA). See Syllabus below for more details.

Lessons are FLEX (pre-recorded) and are embedded into the Nearpod activity slides (see "course structure" below).

During the last week, learners will bring all of this info together to create a ONE-DAY MEAL PLAN! They can present this either in written format, as a video (similar to a "day of eating" Youtube or TikTok video), as a drawing (3 plates with balanced meals drawn on the plates), or any other creative way they would like!

I have a down-to-earth teaching style and I like to spark excitement about topics by tying the lesson to learners' lives or adding interesting facts and real-life scenarios. I truly do love science and learners pick up on my enthusiasm! I encourage learners to share anything they would like to in the classroom that is related to the lesson: a picture of their healthy meal that day, an anecdote about how they changed their eating patterns and now have more energy, a story about a restaurant they visited that has adapted a healthy menu (maybe a picture of the menu), or more!

COURSE STRUCTURE:

1. 1 pre-recorded video lesson each week, which is embedded in a Nearpod deck between interactive slides and activities. Lessons, links, and assignments will be uploaded to the classroom each Monday morning by 9am (eastern time).
2. Nearpod activities should be completed by Friday of each week when possible. 
3. We will have an End-of-Class project (a one-day meal plan) due the last week.
4. I will grade or give feedback for all work turned in. 
5. There will be opportunities for learner interaction in the classroom (commenting on each other's meal plans, or answering the question of the week). 

SYLLABUS: 

Week 1:
*Topics - Macronutrients: Carbohydrates, Fats, Proteins / MyPlate recommendations (this has replaced the food guide pyramid) / Reading a nutrition label
*Homework - study Nutrition Vocabulary Handout before watching lesson video; complete Nearpod interactive slides; analyze and share a nutrition label in your kitchen; answer the question of the week in the classroom

Week 2: 
*Topics - Vitamins (functions, foods which contain them, deficiency symptoms, toxicity symptoms)
*Homework - study Nutrition Vocabulary Handout before watching lesson video; complete Nearpod interactive slides; answer the question of the week in the classroom

Week 3:
*Topics - Minerals (functions, foods which contain them, deficiency symptoms, toxicity symptoms) / One-day meal plan project guidelines
*Homework - study Nutrition Vocabulary Handout before watching lesson video; complete Nearpod interactive slides; answer the question of the week in the classroom; start your One-Day Meal Plan Project

Week 4:
*Topics - Common nutrient deficiencies, vitamin and mineral relationships and synergies, common diets that people choose and why / Discussing the benefits of a balanced, whole-foods diet and how to achieve that in today's busy society / A virtual trip through the grocery store / One-day meal plan project guidelines
*Homework - study Nutrition Vocabulary Handout before watching lesson video; One-Day Meal Plan Project; complete Nearpod interactive slides; answer the question of the week in the classroom; comment on other learner's meal plans! 

*List of my high school classes:*
Cell Biology
Human Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology 
Nutrition 101 (this class)