Fitness Flashback: Unpacking Past and Present Nutrition Claims!

Teaching Scientific Literacy: The Case of the Imaginary Pianos

Delve into the work of F. Christian Miller and his insights on fitness to help students assess nutrition claims from both the past and present. Ideal for middle and high school students, this activity outlined in the Library of Congress blog, Teaching With the Library, invites students to evaluate the claims made in Miller’s newspaper article, “How to Keep Fit,” published in the Omaha Daily Bee on December 31, 1911.

Using guiding questions, students will collaborate in groups to identify causal relationships within the article, examine the scientific evidence supporting these claims, and question the assumptions presented. As a class, they will discuss whether the claims are based on sound science or fall into the realm of pseudoscience, backing their opinions with reasoning.

To link this historical perspective to today's context, students will conduct a second evaluation by reviewing a contemporary social media post or article from an influencer discussing food, fitness, or health. They will analyze whether these modern claims are supported by adequate evidence and reasoning. Additionally, students will consider what information might be missing from both the current posts and Miller’s 1911 article.

Happy Teaching!