Magazine articles

Health and nutrition in the Armed Forces

Synopsis

This lesson uses extracts from both Soldier Magazine and Men's Health Magazine. These articles comment on healthy food within Army catering from two different perspectives.

Students will be given the opportunity to analyse the articles in detail, identifying key points, distinguishing between fact and opinion, and studying language techniques. Consideration will be given to layout, headlines, sub-headings, background designs and pictures. Students will also be given the opportunity to write their own magazine article on the subject of catering and healthy eating in their own school.

MOD Topic

Health and nutrition in the Armed Forces

Curriculum Checklist

EN1: 2f, 3c; EN2: 1a, b, e; 2c, d; 5a, b, c, h; EN3: 1c, i, j, k.

Curriculum Links

• History
• Science
• IT

Prior Knowledge

The ability to distinguish between opinion and fact.
The ability to extract meaning beyond the literal.

Learning Outcomes

Lower ability students will:

• Be able to consider the differences between fact, opinion, bias and objectivity.
• Be able to explain in their own words what is being said explicitly.
• Be able to consider the characteristic features of different types of texts at word, sentence and text level.
• Consider how the nature and purpose of media products influence content and meaning.
• Consider how meaning is conveyed.
• Observe that ration packs contain a variety of foods.
• Consider how choice of form, layout and presentation contribute to effect.
• Be able to produce some written material on the subject and to consider the planning required to produce an extended piece of writing.

Average ability students will:

• Understand the differences between fact, opinion, bias and objectivity.
• Understand the main features of what is being said explicitly and implicitly.
• Consider the characteristic features of different types of texts at word, sentence and text level.
• Learn how the nature and purpose of media products influence content and meaning.
• Consider how meaning is conveyed in texts that include print and images.
• Learn that the MOD has to provide their employees with a choice of food, observing religious and cultural differences.
• Be able to understand the importance of form, layout etc.
• Be able to plan and draft a good written piece to comment, including facts, opinions and quotations.

Higher ability students will:

• Be able to distinguish between fact and opinion, bias and objectivity.
• Be able to compare what is said explicitly and implicitly by commenting on the language.
• Be able to identify the characteristic features of different types of texts at word, sentence and text level.
• Be able to identify at text level how the nature and purpose of media products influence content and meaning.
• Be able to identify how meaning is conveyed in texts that include print and images and evaluate that information.
• Be able to identify the range of food available to different groups of people to meet their needs.
• Be able to identify how choice of form, layout and presentation contribute to effect.
• Be able to plan and draft a convincing written piece to comment, including facts, opinions, quotations and a logically structured argument.

Lesson code

EN1