- Author: Shawna Rogers
As this school year winds down, we reflect on some of the highlights over the past months. In this feature, Shawna Rogers shares the excitement of a special visitor at Yokomi.
Thanks to the Dairy Council's Mobile Dairy Program, Buttercup, a jersey dairy cow, made her debut at Yokomi as the students gazed on with excitement. With the help of her handler she showed the students the “day in the life of a dairy cow.” This included sharing what she likes to eat to talking about how she gets milked daily. Buttercup's visit allowed the students to see where their milk comes from.
The students were told that if they were on their best behavior there would be a surprise at the end of the presentation. Towards the end of the presentation the handler went to the back of the trailer to retrieve the surprise… a calf, just weeks old! The calf stubbornly came out of the trailer to the sound of awes from the students. Students then had the opportunity to pet Buttercup and the calf before returning to class.
The UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program and the Dairy Council of California partner together to bring the students of Fresno County a memorable experience! Thanks for bringing Buttercup to visit!
- Author: Shawna Rogers
Last year the UC Master Gardeners and UC CalFresh hosted "Spring Into Health" at the Garden of the Sun, an event where 4th grade students from Yokomi Elementary came to the Garden to experience interactive displays with mini lessons all about nutrition. Phoebe Copp, with the Dairy Council of California, participated in this event, teaching the students all about the importance of milk and building strong bones. The students enjoyed the lesson, especially being able to put on a fake milk mustache and take pictures!
Our next Spring into Health Event is scheduled in March 2015. We can't wait!
- Author: Emily Harris
- Editor: Shelby MacNab
At the end of the school year, Emily started a nutrition education series at Yokomi elementary. After each lesson students got a challenge to complete until she returned for the next lesson. Read more on that here. Today, Emily reflects on the impact of the lessons.
By teaching my Yokomi second graders every week, I was able to cover many topics, from hand washing to plant and animal proteins. I was amazed by how much they remembered from week to week, and the way they were able to build upon each lesson, always ready for a new challenge!
I made sure that my last lesson with my second graders was fun by reading Bearobics: A Hip-Hop Counting Story by Vic Parker.
In this story different animals engage in different dance moves; so what did the students do? They danced like animals!
From the mice tango to the kangaroo hop, the students were let loose in the classroom, learning that exercise can be a lot of fun.
As I said my final goodbyes, the students eagerly asked me what their challenge was this time. I hadn't prepared a challenge since I wouldn't check in with them again on their progress, but I made it their goal to exercise at least 60 minutes a day all summer.
I may not be there to see if they keep up with this challenge, but I know they've been provided the tools and the inspiration they need to keep this challenge, along with all of the healthy eating challenges they've received this school year.
There are only a few more weeks until UC CalFresh is back on school campuses, working to build healthy families through nutrition and physical activity education. We can't wait!
- Author: Shelby MacNab
- Field Trip Coordinator: Shawna Rogers
- Photographer: DeAnna Molinar
Recently we had the opportunity to host a field trip for Yokomi elementary 4th graders at the UCCE Master Gardeners' demonstration garden, the Garden of the Sun.
The students were delighted to learn about MyPlate, hydration, tomato plants, physical activity, edible plant parts, healthy snacks and more!
These few pictures give you a glimpse into the fantastic, hands-on experience students had learning about nutrition. It was a great day for us all!
Special thanks to Rose Pipkin and the MG Youth Garden Committee, as well as Phoebe Copp with the CA Dairy Council for helping host the field trip!
- Author: Emily Harris
- Contributor: Shawna Rogers
- Editor: Shelby MacNab
UC CalFresh Nutrition Educator, Emily Harris, reflects on the experience of teaching three classes of 2nd graders during a nutrition education series. Three weeks in to the series, we get a glimpse of the successes and student feedback.
What happens when 2nd graders learn about the importance of nutrition every week? Let's find out!
Week One
The first lesson students participated in was on the difference between "anytime" snacks: foods low in sugar, salt and fat and high in nutrients and "sometimes" snacks: foods high in sugar, salt and fat. The kids learned the difference between anytime snacks like low-fat string cheese and pretzels, and sometimes snacks, like cupcakes and soda.
When I asked the kids why sugary snacks aren't good for our bodies, they had a lot of ideas! Many said that sugar makes you tired and makes your stomach hurt. One student said that sugar makes you feel like you're on a roller coast and he was definitely right! Sugar gives you a burst of energy followed by a crash that can make you tired.
In order to improve the students' snack choices I asked them what they normally would eat as a snack, then asked them what they could add or subtract to make it better for them. Many students expressed a love for cheesy crackers that contain a lot of fat. They said they would eat a piece of fruit or some veggies to make it a healthier choice, or choose pretzels instead. I left them with a challenge for eating in moderation: stick with five days of anytime snacks and two days of sometimes snacks during the upcoming week.
Week Two
I asked the students about their snack choices when I came back for week two, and a quick review helped the students remember their goal of eating anytime snacks most days of the week.
The main event was now breakfast! The students learned that three of the five food groups need to be present at breakfast time in order to stay full and satisfied until lunch. We sang the “Breakfast Shaky” (which is a breakfast version of the hokey pokey) and danced the time away as some of the students realized they hadn't been eating enough for breakfast.
All of the children were shocked when they learned that breakfast doesn't have to include typical breakfast foods like eggs and cereal; breakfast can be spaghetti, quesadillas, or even homemade pizza as long as there are three food groups with "anytime" ingredients. It took awhile for the students to believe me, and even the ones that did said their parents probably wouldn't let them eat pizza for breakfast. I encouraged them to share what they learned and see if their parents may make an exception.
This weeks challenge was for the students to eat a three food group breakfast every day during spring break.
Week Three
During week three the students learned about the ways different foods keep our bodies functioning properly.
I brought along our Mr. Healthy Body poster and used visuals to help students learn the difference between vitamin A, which helps keep our eyes healthy, and potassium, which keeps our blood flowing properly. Some of the vitamins and minerals had interactive movements to keep the students engaged and enhance their ability to differentiate between each one. When learning about vitamin A, we made "goggles" with our hands. When talking about potassium and healthy blood flow, we wiggled our bodies.
The students loved Mr. Healthy Body because he is hilarious to look at, which helped them to remember what we learned. When we talked about vitamin C, I told the students that it acts like a bubble to keep germs and disease away. One student said vitamin C is a force field, which I love even more than the bubble analogy!
I can't wait to see what happens with these students during our upcoming sessions. Stay tuned for an update on the next few weeks!
~Emily
