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Deep Dive in IBDP SEHS: - A.2 Hydration and Nutrition Teacher Resource Pack (A2)


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Deep Dive in IBDP SEHS: - A.2 Hydration and Nutrition Teacher Resource Pack (A2)

Teaching the IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science (SEHS) course means navigating the intersection of theory and application. At its core, the subject is all about helping students understand how the human body functions and how to optimize athletic performance and overall health. With our suite of engaging and curriculum-aligned teaching materials focused on Hydration and Nutrition (Topic A.2), educators can deliver impactful lessons that resonate with both academic rigor and real-world relevance.

In this blog post, we’ll explore our newly released SEHS resources, featuring detailed presentations and hands-on activities tailored for the IBDP classroom. These tools help educators deepen students’ understanding of hydration, nutrition, energy systems, and macronutrient balance. Whether you’re preparing your students for their IAs or enhancing their physiological literacy, these materials are your ideal classroom companions.


💧 Section 1: Understanding Hydration – Water & Electrolyte Balance Essentials

Hydration is foundational to both health and performance, and it’s a cornerstone of the A.2.1 sub-topic in the SEHS syllabus. Our resource, A2.1 Hydration and Nutrition: Water and Electrolyte Balance, breaks down this complex concept with clarity and relevance.

🔍 What’s Included:

  • Definitions: euhydration, dehydration, hypohydration, hyperhydration

  • Regulation via the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and kidneys

  • Measurement techniques: urine color, body weight, osmolarity

  • States of imbalance like hypernatremia and hyponatremia

  • The concept of cardiovascular drift and its impact on performance

🌟 Classroom Benefits:

  • Visually engaging slides simplify difficult physiological content

  • Practice questions embedded throughout support student comprehension

  • Strong alignment with IB command terms and assessment expectations

  • Encourages TOK links around hydration strategies and athlete health risks

🧩 IBDP Alignment:

  • A.2.1.1–A.2.1.3: Discusses water balance, intake/loss mechanisms, and physiological regulation in-depth


🥗 Section 2: Nutrition for Health & Performance – Fueling the Human Body

The A2.2 Hydration and Nutrition: Fueling for Health and Performance presentation helps students understand how macronutrients and micronutrients work together to support optimal physiological functioning, especially during physical activity.

🧬 Key Topics Explored:

  • Carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids: roles, food sources, and energy contributions

  • Micronutrients like iron, calcium, sodium, and potassium

  • RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport) and Low Energy Availability (LEA)

  • Gut microbiome’s role in nutrient uptake and energy efficiency

🍎 Nutritional Strategy Highlights:

  • Pre- and post-workout meal planning tips

  • Interactive quizzes and food diary discussions

  • Real-life application for athletes and active individuals

🧩 IBDP Alignment:

  • A.2.2.1–A.2.2.5: Includes everything from macronutrient functions to understanding energy availability and performance optimization


⚡ Section 3: Practical Application – Engaging Students Through Experiments

Understanding theory is important—but applying it makes learning unforgettable. Our hands-on activities give students the chance to explore hydration and nutrition in their own lives and through experimental design.

🏃‍♂️ Energy Systems and Physical Activity Lab:

  • Students perform exercises of varying intensity to identify the use of the phosphagen, glycolytic, and oxidative systems

  • Heart rate monitoring helps link physiological responses to metabolic pathways

  • Discussion questions prompt critical thinking on VO₂ max and energy adaptation

🥦 Macronutrient Analysis and Energy Availability Activity:

  • Students track their food intake for a day

  • Analyze macro proportions and compare intake to energy expenditure

  • Discuss the effects of LEA and nutritional balance on health and performance

🧩 IBDP Alignment:

  • A.2.3.1: Investigates energy systems during physical activity

  • A.2.2.3–A.2.2.5: Relates to energy availability, diet, and athlete health


🏅 Section 4: Optimizing Assessment Readiness – Real-World Understanding for Better Outcomes

These resources go beyond content delivery. By integrating visuals, activities, and assessment-style questions, students are continually engaging in the type of analytical and data-driven thinking that IBDP assessments demand.

🧠 Learning Outcomes Strengthened:

  • Identification and explanation of physiological systems

  • Application of knowledge to real-world scenarios (e.g., training, competition)

  • Analytical thinking with data interpretation

  • Internal Assessment (IA) readiness through hands-on investigations

💡 Teaching Tips:

  • Use the food diary analysis to scaffold a mini-IA

  • Assign cardiovascular drift exploration as a case study for TOK discussions

  • Mix and match slides across presentations to create personalized lesson sequences


🎯 Conclusion: Equip, Engage, Empower – The SEHS Way

Every SEHS educator knows that student engagement is the key to deeper learning. With our topic A.2 Hydration and Nutrition resources, you’re not just teaching biology or physiology—you’re helping students make life-long connections to their bodies, their health, and the science behind performance.

Whether you’re new to teaching SEHS or a seasoned educator, this resource bundle equips you with tools that are:

  • Fully aligned with IBDP assessment objectives

  • Rooted in inquiry and real-world application

  • Built to empower learners through exploration and evidence-based thinking

Take your IBDP SEHS classroom to the next level—download your Hydration and Nutrition teaching bundle today!

SEHS A.2 Hydration and Nutrition Teacher Resource Pack (A2)

SEHS A.2 Hydration and Nutrition Teacher Resource Pack (A2)

$99.00

Elevate Your IBDP Sports, Exercise, and Health Science Lessons with Ready-to-Use Teacher Resource Packs Our Teacher Resource Packs are thoughtfully designed to support the new IBDP Sports, Exercise, and Health Science curriculum. These comprehensive, flexible, and engaging resources are tailored… read more

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