High School, College Grades  Lesson 30 minutes

Carb Quest: Fuel Your Curiosity!

Merranda B
HS-LS1-6
HS-LS1-6
HS-LS1-7
Self Directed Learning
Academic Mindset
+ 1 more
1-pager

Purpose

Students will explore the chemistry of carbohydrates and their role in energy production through a hands-on investigation. By collaborating with local sports teams or athletic trainers, they will measure how carbohydrate intake affects athletic performance. This real-world application encourages students to engage in self-directed learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving while connecting scientific concepts to their own lives and communities.

Learning goals

Students will explore the chemistry of carbohydrates and their role in energy production and athletic performance. They will collaborate with local sports teams to design and conduct experiments that analyze how different carbohydrate intakes affect performance metrics. Through self-directed learning and critical reflection, students will develop explanations based on evidence, enhancing their understanding of the biochemical processes involved in cellular respiration and energy transfer.
Standards
  • [Next Generation Science Standards] HS-LS1-6 - Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for how carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen from sugar molecules may combine with other elements to form amino acids and/or other large carbon-based molecules.
  • [Next Generation Science Standards] HS-LS1-6 - Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for how carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen from sugar molecules may combine with other elements to form amino acids and/or other large carbon-based molecules.
  • [Next Generation Science Standards] HS-LS1-7 - Use a model to illustrate that cellular respiration is a chemical process whereby the bonds of food molecules and oxygen molecules are broken and the bonds in new compounds are formed resulting in a net transfer of energy.
Competencies
  • Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.
  • Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.
  • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.

Products

Students will collaborate to design and conduct an experiment with a local sports team or athletic trainer to measure the effects of carbohydrate intake on athletic performance. They will create a presentation that includes their hypothesis, methodology, data collected, and analysis of results using claim, evidence, and reasoning. The final product will be a report or video presentation shared with community partners, highlighting their findings and suggestions for optimizing carbohydrate consumption for athletic performance.

Launch

Begin the lesson with a quick, interactive demonstration where students consume a small carbohydrate snack, such as a piece of fruit or a granola bar, and then engage in a brief physical activity like jumping jacks or a short run. Following this, students will discuss their immediate energy levels and hypothesize how carbohydrates might affect athletic performance. This activity sets the stage for exploring the essential question and encourages students to connect personal experiences with scientific inquiry.

Exhibition

Students will collaborate with local sports teams or athletic trainers to design and conduct experiments on how carbohydrate intake affects athletic performance. They will present their findings in a community showcase, where they will use models and visual aids to explain the chemistry of carbohydrates and their role in energy transfer. Attendees, including peers, teachers, and community members, will have the opportunity to engage with students' projects, ask questions, and provide feedback. This exhibition will also feature interactive stations where visitors can learn about the science behind carbohydrates and participate in simple experiments or demonstrations.