LESSON: Get More Sleep
CONTENT AREA: Personal & Consumer Health
GRADE LEVEL: 4-5
ACTIVITY TYPE: WORKSHEET + DISCUSSION
About this Lesson

Description

Analyze caffeine levels in common beverages and how these choices can interfere with sleep

Estimated Time

20 minutes

Standards Alignment

National Health Education Standards
  • NHES Standard 1 - Concepts
  • NHES Standard 2 - Analyzing Influences
Common Core Standards
  • Common Core--Reading Informational Text
    • RI.4.3
    • RI.5.3
  • Common Core, ELA -- Math: Measurement and Data
    • 4.MD.2
    • 5.MD.1
Materials, Teacher Resources and Handouts
Materials Needed
  • Caffeine Worksheet (1 per student)
Teacher Resources
Student Handouts
Key Vocabulary

Help students expand their vocabulary by:

  • incorporating these key words into the classroom discussions;
  • providing context clues as you use them; and
  • encouraging students to use these words in their speaking and writing activities.

Vocabulary
  • INTERFERE - get in the way of Deciding to play a video game at night can interfere with getting to bed on time.
  • CAFFEINE - a substance that stimulates the nervous system Soda, coffee and some energy drinks contain caffeine.
  • STIMULANT - something that temporarily quickens the activity of an organ Caffeine acts as a stimulant on the nervous system.
  • RECOMMENDATION - advice or suggestion of an action that is appropriate or beneficial Doctors have issued a recommendation that children in 4th and 5th grade get 10 to 11 hours of sleep each night.

Place these words and definitions on the class "word wall," on an easel or chart, or use some other visual cue.

Teaching Steps
Step 1: Review “Sleep Barriers Background”

As you prepare to teach this lesson, you may find it helpful to review the Teacher Resource called "Sleep Barriers Background." In this resource, we've compiled information about why/how caffeine and screen time are so disruptive to sleep. You don't have to share this with your students - it's just background to make teaching the lesson easier for you.

Step 2. Review “Caffeine Worksheet” and “Caffeine Worksheet Answers”

This worksheet asks students to calculate the amount of caffeine per ounce in popular beverages and then rank the beverages according to which beverage has the most caffeine per ounce. The bonus question asks for the 3 products with the highest total amount of caffeine.

Step 3: Review lesson concepts with students

Have you shown your class the Interactive Presentation yet? If not, start there. If you taught the Interactive Presentation on a different day, then remind students of these key concepts:

  • At this age, your body needs 10 to 11 hours of sleep every night.
  • Caffeine and screen time are the two biggest reasons that kids don’t get enough sleep.
  • Getting enough sleep helps your body grow, helps it recover from daily activity, is important for learning and memory, and allows healing from recovery and illness.
Step 4: Explain task to students

Review the amount of caffeine recommended for children their age: no more than 85 mg per day.

Hand out or project “Caffeine Worksheet.” Demonstrate how to calculate the amount of caffeine in an ounce of each beverage explaining the calculation for the example problem (Rockstar).

  • Explain that calculating how much caffeine in an ounce allows each product to be compared.
  • Point out that if someone drinks the entire container, they will get the total amount of caffeine found in the container. Ask students to answer the bonus question to see which 3 items have the highest amount of caffeine in the entire container.
  • Have students look on the list of beverages to estimate how much caffeine they have in a day.
Step 5. Review student answers to worksheet questions

Bring the whole class together and invite students to share their responses.

Step 6. Elaborate with more research and discussion

If you have time and access to a computer, you can encourage kids to look up other beverages and foods and the amount of caffeine they contain.


Ask students if they can think of a beverage that contains no sugar, artificial sweeteners, coloring or added chemicals. The answer is water. Explain that water is a great choice, and the daily recommendation for water is 8 to 10 cups.

Have each student identify at least three beverages they enjoy drinking that do not contain caffeine.