Unit: SugarByHalf – Sugar and Healthy Kidneys – Foundation to Year 2

Sugar and Healthy Kidneys

This unit explores the difference between naturally occurring sugars and the added sugars found in foods. Foundation to Grade 2 students will find out which foods contain added sugars and the effect of consuming too much added sugar on our kidneys.

The World Health Organisation says that for good health, we should limit our daily added sugar intake to 6 teaspoons of added sugar a day. On average, Australians consume 14-16 teaspoons per day. Teenagers consume more than 20. Eating too much added sugar is a key driver of serious health problems including obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, tooth decay, dementia and mental health conditions. A poor diet also puts children behind their peers, affecting brain development, sleep and ability to learn.

This HPE and Science unit teaches students how to recognise foods containing added sugars, the role of our kidneys in the body and the effect of consuming too much sugar on the health of our kidneys. Students will learn how sugars are produced in nature, explore the function of the kidneys in filtering our blood and keeping us healthy, and the choices they can make to enable them to grow up with health, well-functioning kidneys.

These lessons were developed in partnership with SugarByHalf and Filter Your Future.