Practice making healthy nutrition and hydration choices that support energy, recovery, and athletic performance.
Read each problem carefully. Use complete sentences when explaining your thinking. Show your work in the space provided when a calculation is needed.
Fueling your body for safe and effective activity
Physical Education - Grade 6-8
- 1
Explain why eating a balanced meal a few hours before physical activity can help performance.
- 2
A student has soccer practice after school. Which snack is the better choice 30 to 60 minutes before practice: a banana with water or a large greasy cheeseburger with soda? Explain your answer.
- 3
List three signs that a person may be dehydrated during physical activity.
- 4
During a 60-minute basketball practice, Mia drinks water before practice, takes small water breaks during practice, and drinks more water afterward. Explain why this is a good hydration plan.
- 5
Circle the best pre-game meal and explain why: grilled chicken, rice, vegetables, and water; or candy, chips, and energy drink.
- 6
Match each nutrient to its main role in physical activity: carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals, water.
- 7
A runner loses water through sweat during a warm day. Describe two reasons sweating affects hydration and performance.
- 8
Read this food label information: one sports drink bottle has 140 calories, 34 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein. Explain one situation when this drink might be useful and one situation when water would be a better choice.
- 9
Jamal skips breakfast and then has physical education class in the morning. How might skipping breakfast affect his performance and focus?
- 10
Create a simple recovery snack for after a hard workout. It should include both carbohydrates and protein. Explain how each part helps the body recover.
- 11
A student says, 'I only need to drink water when I feel thirsty.' Explain why this is not always the best plan during exercise.
- 12
Look at this hydration chart: pale yellow urine usually means good hydration, dark yellow urine may mean dehydration, and clear urine may mean a person is drinking a lot of fluid. What should an athlete do if their urine is dark yellow before practice?
- 13
Explain why energy drinks with high caffeine can be risky for middle school students before sports or physical education class.
- 14
A volleyball tournament lasts three hours with short breaks between games. Describe a smart nutrition and hydration plan for the tournament.
- 15
Study the plate model: half the plate is fruits and vegetables, one quarter is grains, and one quarter is protein, with water on the side. Explain how this meal pattern can support an active student.