Lesson Plan

Muscle Repair Roadmap

Students will understand how key vitamins and minerals support muscle repair and will apply that knowledge by completing a guided resistance-band circuit, then reflecting on nutrition’s role in physical recovery.

This lesson connects nutrition science to real-world fitness by showing how nutrients fuel muscle repair. It builds students’ health literacy, supports strength development, and fosters lifelong wellness habits.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction & Hook

5 minutes

Step 2

Nutrient Role Exploration

7 minutes

Step 3

Resistance Band Circuit

12 minutes

Step 4

Group Discussion & Reflection

6 minutes

Slide Deck

Muscle Repair & You

Welcome students! Introduce today’s lesson: how our muscles rebuild after exercise and how vitamins and minerals help. Explain that we’ll look at muscle fibers, see what happens during workouts, and discover the ‘nutrition superheroes’ behind muscle repair.

What Are Muscle Fibers?

Explain that muscles are made of long fibers bundled together. Use the diagram to point out individual fibers and show how they contract and stretch.

Muscle Breakdown During Exercise

Describe how exercise causes microscopic tears in fibers. Emphasize that these tiny breaks are normal and necessary for growth.

The Muscle Repair Process

Guide students through the repair timeline: rest, nutrients, and rebuilding. Explain that repaired fibers become thicker and stronger.

Nutrient Heroes: Protein & Vitamin D

Focus on protein and vitamin D. Ask students to name favorite high-protein foods. Remind them to consider vitamin D sources (sunlight and foods).

Nutrient Champions: Calcium & Magnesium

Explain calcium’s role in muscle contraction and magnesium’s in relaxation. Encourage students to spot foods they eat regularly.