High School – Accessing Information for Healthy Weight Management
Grade – 11
Time allotted – 45 minutes
Lesson 1
Essential Question: How do I know if health information I find is valid and reliable?
1. What do I want the students to know and be able to do?
 State Standard –

National Standards
 Standard 3 - Students will demonstrate the ability to access valid information and
products and services to enhance health.
▪ Performance indicator 3.12.1 - Evaluate the validity of health information,
products, and services.
 Performance indicator 3.12.1 with infused content - Evaluate the
validity of health information, products, and services found on the
Internet.
 Evaluate the validity of a web site
 Provide justification for the validity of a source

Standard 1 – Students will comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease
prevention to enhance health.
▪
Performance indicator 1.12.1 - Predict how healthy behaviors can affect health
status.

Performance indicator 1.12.1 - with infused content - Predict how
healthy behaviors, such as good nutrition, physical activity, and healthy
weight management, can affect health status.

Predict how nutrition, physical activity, and healthy weight
management information from the Internet affects health status.
2. How will I know when the students have achieved the goal?
 Students utilize the Web Site Evaluation Tool to evaluate and determine the validity of a
website.

Students justify why mypyramid.gov and health.gov/dietary guidelines.gov are valid sources
of information about nutrition, physical activity, and healthy weight management based on
the information on the Web Site Evaluation Tool.

Students predict how information from the Internet about the healthy behaviors of good
nutrition, physical activity, and healthy weight management affects health status.
3. What procedures will I use to reach the goal?
 Explain the agenda of the class
High School - Accessing Information – Lesson 1
Original lesson plan courtesy of Amy O’Neil
Page 1

To introduce the lesson, ask
o Why would you access the Internet for health information?
o How do you know if the information you are reading is valid and accurate?
o Write on the board and discuss the different types of URL (Uniform Resource
Locator) extensions
 Commercial Organizations - .com & .net
 Community Organizations - .org
 Government Agencies - .gov
 Educational - .edu
o Why is it important to validate website information?
 Evaluating valid sources of information enables students to make wise decisions
about health and health-promoting information, products, and services.
 In order to predict how information about the healthy behaviors of nutrition,
physical activity, and healthy weight management affects health status, we must
know that the information is valid.

Discuss that accessing information is a skill that means knowing how to find valid and
reliable information about healthy behaviors such as nutrition and exercise on the Internet
and knowing how to choose health-related information, products, and services.

Place 8 pieces of newsprint around the room with each of the following titles at the top
1. What information should you find on the primary page?
2. What information is necessary to validate the site?
3. What criteria determine web site accuracy?
4. What information should be available about the author?
5. How do you determine if the web site is appropriate for the audience?
6. What are some important points about navigating the web site?
7. What are some important points about navigating from the web site?
8. What are some important structural criteria for the website?

Divide students into groups and place at each station. Tell the students that each question
refers to criteria that validate a web site. Ask them to think about the question and answer it,
understanding that they may not know the answer.
o Monitor the time carefully
o Reflect on the answers
High School - Accessing Information – Lesson 1
Original lesson plan courtesy of Amy O’Neil
Page 2

Distribute the Web Site Evaluation Tool and discuss the criteria for each section referring
back to the newsprint and point out any similarities. Correct misinformation.

Distribute Steps to a Healthier You from www.mypyramid.gov and the Dietary Guidelines
for Americans, http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/
o Using the Web Site Evaluation Tool, students rate the websites
o Students report out their rating score and justification.

Reflect by asking
o How do you evaluate the validity of health information, products, and services found
on the Internet?
 Web site evaluation tool
o Where is a valid source of information about nutrition and exercise?
 Mypyramid.gov
o Where is a valid source of information for dietary guidelines?
 http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/
o How do you know this site is a valid source of information?
 It scores high on the Web Site Evaluation Tool
o How can you use valid sources of information to predict how healthy behaviors affect
health status?
 In order to predict how healthy behaviors affect health status, we must use valid
information.
o Ticket to leave
 What I learned in class today
4. How can I improve this lesson?
Lesson Connections
 Homework: N/A
 Interdisciplinary Connections: ELA
 Opportunities for Technology use: Use computers to find valid sources of information.
 Opportunities for Parent Participation: Students show parents/siblings how to find valid
information on the internet.
Teacher Resources Needed:
 Newsprint
 Markers
 Newsprint templates (8 questions)
 Website evaluation tool
 “Things I Learned in Class Today” Formative Assessment
 Website Access or Print-outs of Steps to a Healthier You and Dietary Guidelines
Student Resources Needed:
 N/A
High School - Accessing Information – Lesson 1
Original lesson plan courtesy of Amy O’Neil
Page 3