Lesson Plan - Debate: Should Schools Serve Flavored Milk?

Watch a Video: Food Fuel

Discuss: What are some of the different food groups? Why is each group important to good health?

Preview Words to Know

Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• petition 
• artificial

Set a Purpose for Reading

As students read the debate, have them look for the main arguments on each side.

1. What did Esteban Perez do to bring about change at his school? Esteban wrote a petition, got other students at his school to sign it, and then presented it to the principal.

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2. What do people on each side of the debate say flavored milk does to kids’ health? People who say schools should serve flavored milk say it boosts health by providing nutrients. People who don’t think schools should serve flavored milk say it harms kids’ health because it has artifical flavors and too much sugar.

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3. What clues in the text help you know the meaning of the word nutrients? The article names vitamin D, calcium, and potassium as examples of nutrients and says they help keep kids healthy, build strong bones, and more. These clues help you know that nutrients are substances that keep your body healthy.

^{(RI.3.4 WORD MEANING)}

FEATURED SKILL: Opinion Writing

Use the skill builder “OREO Opinions” to have students plan a short persuasive essay about flavored milk at school. 

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