Pedometer Calorie Counting
 Challenge

A WebQuest for Elementary Students

Designed by

Jessica Ricotta

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | 

                                                             




Introduction

This project was given to inform Elementary students on the benefits of counting the number of calories they burn by the steps taken daily using a pedometer.The pedometer is a great way to measure your calories burned determined by the number of steps you take daily or during an activity.  You first calculate your weight and stride length which helps determine the distance you've traveled and number of calories burned. Wearing a pedometer is a great way to track your daily activity and inspire you to move more and give up at least some of your inactive lifestyles. The 10,000 Steps a Day Philosophy to achieve good health is when you strive to take 10,000 steps a day (the equivalent of walking roughly five miles). A person who walks 10,000 steps a day will burn between 2,000 and 3,500 extra calories per week, which will result in achieving a vastly better health profile and longer life.  Teaching students how to read nutrition food labels and what it takes to burn those access calories off daily, while monitoring it with the use of a pedometer, are beneficial tools to help a students take "steps" to a healthier lifestyle. 



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The Task

The purpose of this activity is to get kids to start thinking about the food and calories that they put in their bodies and how much work it takes to burn those excess calories by keeping track using a pedometer.  Students will be participating in various physical activities to burn the amount of calories stated on their nutritional facts food labels.







This picture illustrates young students reading food labels to see what thier target amount of calories are to burn off.


The Process

The instructor will start the lesson by reviewing a food label with the students so that they remember how to find the serving size and the calories per serving. Next, explain that they are going to have the opportunity to pick out a food label of a particular food that they would like to eat or one that they have eaten before. Then the instructor will show them how to put their weight into their pedometers. Have a scale out if they would like to weigh themselves to see what their exact weight is, but they can estimate if they don't feel comfortable. This is done to get an accurate approximation of the total amount of calories burned during an activity.

Once they have entered their weight and set their pedometers on the calorie count mode, they are then free to pick out their label. Once they have their label and have found the information about serving sizes and calories per serving, they are free to pick the activities of their choice and get to work on burning those calories off. The challenge is to try to burn the number of calories in one serving of the food that they chose before class is over. This activity is really eye opening experience for some students who don't realize how hard it is to burn calories as well as the number of calories that some of their favorite foods contain. At the end of the lesson discuss whether or not their choice was a healthy one, and if not, discuss what foods may have been a better choice. Also, talk about the fact that if we choose to put those extra calories in our bodies, we are going to have to work harder to burn them.


Evaluation

This chart exemplifies how the students performance and comprehension will be assessed.

 

Beginning

1

Developing

2

Accomplished

3

Score

 

Students will find the number of calories per serving on food label

Students will need to know how to find nutrition information on food labels. They will need to know how to find the serving size and the calories per serving.

Students search for the calories per serving on their food labels with partners and make estimation's on how many steps it will take to burn them off.

Students successfully gain knowledge on how to read food nutrition labels.

 

 

Students will log information into pedometer (weight)

 

 

Students will also need to know how to enter their weight into a pedometer and how to read their calorie count on a pedometer.

Students will weigh themselves to get an accurate calculation of the number of calories burned and then log it into their pedometers.

Students successfully log information into their pedometers and gain comprehension on how to read and utilize them.

 

 

Students will strive to burn number of calories illustrated on food label by participating in  physical activities

 

 

Students will set a goal of the number of calories they must burn doing various activities.

Students perform skills and participate in active games and activities to burn their destined amount of calories and change their intensity levels if little progress is shown.

Students actively participate in physical activities (ie: jump roping, basketball, partner tag, catch).

 

 

Students achieve burning the destined number of calories

 

Students progressively recognize that participating in physical activity is helping them gradually burn calories.

Progressively students are reaching their desired amount of burned calories.

Students successfully achieve burning the destined amount of calories if not more.

 
                  


Conclusion

After accomplishing the Pedometer Calorie Counting Challenge, students are able to count the number of calories that go into their bodies by reading food labels.  They are also now aware of how much work/effort/energy is needed to burn that amount of calories.  Students are also able to use a pedometer to count the number of steps they take daily or during a particular activity and record the number of calories burned, and the distance they've traveled.
It is important for young students to become aware of what goes into their bodies and how to burn calories.  Now with the knowledge of using a pedometer, students can keep track of the number of calories they burn daily.  This can ultimately lead to a healthier future.

Credits & References

http://www.peclogit.org/logit.asp
http://www.pecentral.org/lessonideas/ViewLesson.asp?ID=5204
http://www.new-lifestyles.com/challenge.html
http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/body/foodsmarts/article4.html

This page was designed and published by Jessica Ricotta and is solely responsible for its contents.
Last Updated May 13, 2008.

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