Integrating Healthy Eating & Physical Activity Throughout the Curriculum

Objective To develop a plan for integrating physical activity & healthy eating messages throughout the curriculum.

Assumptions 1.Integration is a strategy for reinforcing and expanding upon comprehensive health education and physical education programs. 2.The integrated messages/content add value to the subject being taught.

Approach Engage the entire faculty in developing a plan to integrate healthy eating & physical activity messages throughout the curriculum. Put the resulting plan in writing and conduct periodic check-ins on the progress.

Advantages Faculty wide engagement in the planning develops awareness of and buy in towards the healthy schools efforts. Faculty feel ownership over the integration plan. Faculty make verbal and written commitments to the integration plan.

Logistics Allow for about 3-4 hours with the faculty and staff to develop their plans. Supplies needed: easel paper, masking tape, marking pens, curriculum integration charts.

Steps to Curriculum Integration 1.Form grade level or subject specific teams 2.Brainstorm ideas for integration 3.Develop a school-wide plan for integration 4.Implement plan & refine the plan, as needed

Step #1: Team Formation Decide what type of team formation makes sense for the school. –High schools might be best served by subject area teams –Elementary schools might be best served by grade level teams

Step #2: Brainstorming Post flip chart paper with a marking pen around the room – each with a different subject name written at the top. Group faculty randomly (e.g. not in grade level groups) and ask each group to stand net to a different poster. Ask groups to brainstorm all of the ways that healthy eating and physical activity into the subject area listed on their posters. After 4 minutes, ask groups to rotate clockwise. Provide groups with 4 minutes per station until all groups have visited all posters.

Step #3: Make a Plan Ask faculty to join their subject area or grade level group. Ask all faculty to commit to doing one integration activity related to both healthy eating & physical activity per term. Ask teams to discuss plans and write their plans out on the Curriculum Integration charts. Ask teams to share their plans with the entire faculty. During this sharing, post an “other ideas” sheet to capture non-curricular ideas that come up (e.g. themed bulletin boards, weekly health tips during announcements, etc.).

Step #4: Implement the Plan Distribute a copy of the integration plan to all faculty. Ensure that all faculty have materials and resources they need to implement the plan. Discuss the progress of the integration plan periodically at faculty meetings throughout the year. Refine the plan, as necessary.

Contact Information KID-HLTH