Fitness Post Detectives: Analyze and Test

Groups get made-up social media posts with exercise claims and analyze them with a checklist. Then they put one claim to a practical test and rewrite the post responsibly.

How to play

1. Give each group of four two printed posts from fictional accounts, with before-and-after photos, discount codes and claims like "if you don't sweat, it doesn't count" or "100 crunches a day burn belly fat" (3 min).
2. Analyze them with six questions: who's saying it, what they're selling, what evidence they give, whether they promise fast results, whether it applies to everyone and what a reliable source says, which they look up on the tablet (7 min).
3. Choose a testable claim and design a 5-minute practical test, for example comparing the heart rate and Borg rating of two exercises or how long you can hold a plank with good form (4 min).
4. Run the test on the mats and record the results (8 min).
5. Rewrite the post responsibly and read it to the class (8 min).

Rules

• The posts are made up: don't look up or criticize real people's accounts.
• No comments on anyone's body or photos, in the posts or in class.
• Run the practical test with safe form and stop if anything hurts.
• Reliable sources means official health agencies and scientific organizations.

Variations

Adaptations

• Visual impairment: posts are provided on the tablet so a screen reader can be used.
• Dyslexia: short texts, large print and shared reading in the group.
• Body image sensitivity: offer posts about performance, with no body photos.

Learning goals

• Critically analyze physical activity messages on social media.
• Check claims against reliable sources and your own data.
• Communicate healthy, responsible messages about exercise.

Equipment for a class of 25

• worksheets: 14
• tablets or phones: 7
• exercise mats: 14
• stopwatch: 7

Teacher tip

Create fictional posts that look like the real format without using existing profiles. Keep in mind someone may have a difficult relationship with body image: avoid photos of bodies in minimal clothing.

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