1. Portion Distortion: A Nutrition Awareness Service-Learning Project Michelle Morris Terrie Poehl Northwestern State University

2. History of Service-Learning Project Louisiana Serve Commission in the office of the Lieutenant Governor YSA Grants: Youth Service America UnitedHealth HEROES

3. Service-Learning Activities 1 st grade students learned about living and nonliving things

4. 1 st grade students felt a bobcat fur as they learned about the impact of Louisiana’s wildlife on the ecosystem

5. 7 th graders constructed a compost bin

6. 1 st graders spread mulch in a shrub bed

7. 7 th graders dug holes for a raised flower bed

8. 2 nd graders planted herbs in pots

9. 7 th graders planted flowers in a flowerbed

10. 2 nd graders transplanted their potted plants into raised garden beds

11. Characteristics of School Mostly African American students Low socio-economic status About 10% lower scores on standardized tests

12. Goals Science instruction Learn about nutrition Grow plants from seeds Exercise Teach others about nutrition

13. Leadership Structure 2 project coordinators 2 First grade teachers (teacher candidates) Undergraduate student volunteers Multiple community partnerships

14. Community Partners Master Gardeners Department of Wildlife and Fisheries LSU AgCenter – Local center – Research center City of Natchitoches

15. Lessons Importance of Grade Level Expectations (GLE’s) Subjects addressed: – Science – English Language Arts – Math – Social Studies – Art

16. Nutrition Fundamentals

17. Blast Off Mission! http://www.fns.usda.gov/multimedia/Games/Blastoff/BlastOff_Game.html http://www.fns.usda.gov/multimedia/Games/Blastoff/BlastOff_Game.html Interactive computer game

18. Reading Food Labels

19. Science Lesson Topics Living vs. nonliving things Weather and clouds Characteristics of soil Parts of plants

20. Activities Planted Pear TreesSchool Vegetable Garden

21. Activities Vermiculture

22. Assessment Activities for Service- Learning Project Thank You Letters Guided reflection Tri-fold Display Board Thesis Research Project

23. Global Youth Service Day Ladybugs released last year This year: – Taught others about nutrition – Served healthy snacks in school – Prepared snack bags for others

24. Resources kidsgardening.org Junior master gardeners: www.jmgkids.us/ Amazon.com