1. Debbie Lau, Lyssa Hughes, Greg Pitzer Making Healthy Choices

2. About the Exercise Module

3. Background Obesity is a growing concern that affects all Americans, but particularly children as they are learning healthy habits. Often, parents are not available to monitor and teach good habits, so schools must play a roll Throughout the school year, students are taking P.E., however they need to learn to plan their exercise and balance it with healthy nutrition and meal planning.

4. Learners Students have often been told what to eat and to exercise, but never in a concerted manner, nor has been in depth so that the content is retained. By using online games, discussion forums, interactive posters, and engaging team projects, students retain knowledge about proper exercise. The content is designed for the upper elementary school learner, however it could apply to middle school students as well

5. Curriculum This module covers the exercise component of the Making Healthy Choices curriculum. This module can be delivered anytime during the school year and is designed to be independent of any other curriculum. It can be connected with current, regular activities. The exercise portion of the course should take about 5 school periods to complete – ideally delivered during a 1 week time period.

6. Purpose of this Unit The goal of this specific exercise unit is to teach students a variety of ways they can exercise so they can find a system that works for them. Student will also learn to plan for an appropriate amount of activity each day.

8. Play 5 games that an entire class could play.

9. List the rules and equipment for one of these games.

10. Plan activities that will give the student the required amount of play time.

12. Resources Teacher’s guide Includes instructions for both in-person and online use, day-by-day instructions on each activity. PowerPoint® slides Student handouts Rubrics Discussion groups for class members Online quizzes Videos

13. The Pilot Test Method, Observations, Survey Results, and Conclusions

14. Method The module was delivered to 4th and 5th grade teachers. We provided the teachers with a web link, user name and password, and instructions on how to get into the Moodle site.

15. Observations Teachers seemed pleased overall with the unit, as many said they do not have a health curriculum to use. Teachers thought that some of lessons, especially the second day would be longer than a 45-minute lesson as planned. Teachers thought that we could be more explicit about what students were supposed to accomplish, at the beginning of the module. Teachers thought the organization of the information on Moodle could be “cleaned up”, and look more like the first modules. More images/clips to enhance PowerPoint

16. Evaluation Results We performed a Kirkpatrick level 1 evaluation by distributing a feedback form to the teachers via e-mail. Most teachers liked the lessons, especially those which had interactive components, like the game board. Some teachers asked to have more organization to the lessons, it gets very wordy.

17. Conclusions From Pilot Test Based on the results of the pilot test, we will: Organize the modules so they are more user friendly, similar to that of the first five modules. Make the poster project and final project more clear to users. Add images/clips to Day1 PowerPoint Make sure the teacher guide is understood how the lessons can be broken up into 3-5 days, which ever suits the teacher’s preference.

18. Some Sample Slides

19. Opening During the first day of the exercise unit, students will watch a video found on SchoolTube. It is about childhood obesity, and it is made by students from Peachtree Ridge High School. Students are encouraged to watch the video several times (it’s only 2 minutes long) to answer the worksheet questions correctly.

20. Video Question ___% of children are completely inactive (which means getting no physical activity at all).

21. Video Answer If you said 10%, then you are correct!

23. Children should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day.

25. Forum Post Finally, students will conclude Day 1 by posting on a discussion forum in Moodle.

26. Purpose? As stated earlier, childhood obesity is a growing problem. By teaching students the facts and introducing different ways to become active, students can make healthier choices.