What is the Healthy Lifestyle Teachers?

[LisaN]

About a week ago, I created the group, the Healthy Lifestyle Teachers.

Why did I do this?

Looking at today’s obesity figures, eating out statistics, and a lack of physical activities, isn’t it time to take a good look at the amount of opportunities we offer children to learn about a healthy lifestyle?

Health does not necessarily have to be a course in and of itself. Health and day to day life go together, so why shouldn’t a healthy lifestyle be part of everyday curriculum, especially in elementary schools.

The idea of Healthy Lifestyle Teachers is to be a resource for teachers to find information, ideas, and links which they can use in their classrooms.

As the time to go back to school approaches, here are a few ways health, cooking, and exercise ideas that can be should be part of every class’ curriculum:

1. Why not start the day off with a few stretches? Or toe touches? Or jumping jacks?

2. Host a 1K as a fund raiser for your school.

3. Make the Monday, “Bring a Fruit for Lunch” day.

4. On the first of every month, introduce a health theme based on the National Health Observance calendar, or pick and choose the ones you’d like to highlight, depending on the grade level.

5. Do you use spelling lists? Why not feature exercises?

6. Create a new after school club, Happy Feet, Healthy Food Kids' Club.

7. During art, create healthy bookmarkers.

8. When studying another country, include the local produce, and find recipes indigenous to it.

9. Assign a healthy home cooking project.

10. When studying fractions, use several healthy recipes as an example.

11. Is it time to study your home state? Why not host a classroom party featuring local produce?

12. Make one day a month, a “Hopping Day.” Students hop to class instead of walking—of course, within reason!

13. Have a poster contest to coincide with National Walk to School Day.

That was 13 easy, useful, and creative ideas that can be used for most elementary classrooms.

It’s critical to start children at an early age to adopt healthy habits and the classroom is a perfect venue to do so.

We hear a lot of negative things about schools, but remember they can have a very positive impact, too, because

After all, it’s about a healthy lifestyle!

© Iowa Avenue

Photo courtesy of dave mcmt