Food For Energy & Food: Nutrition Unit

Energy Cube Warm-Up teaches students the body receives energy from the foods a person eats daily. Energy in food is measured by the number of calories it contains. The energy in food is found from the following nutrients: carbohydrates, fat, and protein. Carbohydrates provide 4 calories in each gram. Carbohydrates are sugars that can be quickly broken down by the body and used for energy. Carbohydrates are stored in relatively small quantities within the muscles and liver. Fat provides 9 calories in each gram. Fat is a great source of energy and can be stored in large quantities by the body. Protein provides 4 calories in each gram and is used primarily to build and repair body tissue. Protein is used as an energy source when carbohydrate stores are low. When a person becomes more fit their muscles will become better at using fat for energy. This saves carbohydrate energy that is stored in muscles.

How to Play:
Students begin jogging around the cones when the music starts. When the music stops the students stop. The teacher will throw the Energy Cube in the air, the students will perform specified exercises according to whatever side of the cube is facing up. If the cube lands on Protien the students perform 4 push-ups. This demonstrates that there are 4 calories in each gram of Protien. If the cube lands on Carbohydrate the students perform 4 rocket blasts. This demonstrates that there are 4 calories in each gram of carbohydrates. If the cube lands on Fat the students pretend they are playing video games, playing on the computer, or watching TV for 9 seconds. This demonstrates that there are 9 calories in each gram of fat. This activity should last 3-5 minutes.