Food for Thought: Making the Connection Bulletin Board Toolkit

1. Food for Thought: Making the ConnectionBulletin Board Toolkit N.C. Nutrition Education and Training Program Nutrition Services Branch N.C. Division of Public Health USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

2. What is Making the Connection?

3. Food for Thought • K-5 curriculum to teach nutrition objectives of the Healthful Living Standard Course of Study • Integrates concepts of healthy eating and physical activity into Math and English Language Arts • Helps teachers deliver effective nutrition education • The curriculum can be found at www.nutritionnc.com

4. Connecting the classroom to the cafeteria Connecting the home to the classroom Connecting the cafeteria to the home

5. Why make the connection? • Students are more likely to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors when they can apply what is learned in the classroom • This is achievable through reinforcement of classroom concepts in the cafeteria and at home

6. Smart Strategies • Four strategies to be presented by the cafeteria • Objectives, slogan, timeline, staff resources, student handouts and family handouts • Strategies based on MyPlate concepts • Memorable and FUN activities!

7. Why bulletin boards? • Bulletin boards… • Are a creative way to promote Making the Connection • Can be colorful engaging visuals that stimulate the minds of students and staff • Have the power to reinforce the healthy lifestyle messages presented in the classroom and cafeteria

8. What does the toolkit include? • How-to guidance for bulletin boards • Timeline for school calendar • Chart map for bulletin board components to match with Food for Thought – Making the Connection Strategies • Bulletin board templates – 3’ x 4’ (Publisher and PDF) • Links to additional resources

9. Putting the pieces together

10. When to capture their attention • Timeline for Bulletin Boards

11. When to capture their attention • Timeline for Bulletin Boards

12. How to capture their attention • Guide to Bulletin Board Chart Map • Food/Food Group • Colors • Illustrations • 3-D Objects • Pockets • National Health Calendar • Concepts to Highlight

13. How to capture their attention • Guide to Bulletin Board Chart Map • Food/Food Group • Colors • Illustrations • 3-D Objects • Pockets • National Health Calendar • Concepts to Highlight

14. Strategy I: Getting to Know MyPlate • Familiarize students with MyPlate • Introduce the concept that every color every day will make kids strong and healthy • Demonstrate that a lot of foods fit into each food group • Show that following MyPlate and the Dietary Guidelines is easy and fun Red, Orange, Purple, Blue and Green…Make These Colors Your Routine!

21. How to capture their attention • Tips for Printing • PDF of 3’ x 4’ can be printed on a large scale printer or plotter • Sections of the bulletin board can be printed on a desktop printer from the Publisher file • Can choose to match or overlap sections when printing background • Attachments can be printed separately • Publisher file allows for customization

34. How to capture their attention • Tips for Trimming • Use crop marks as a guide • A paper cutter will allow for quicker trimming and straighter lines • Trim to the border edge • Once trimmed the sheets will be smaller than 8 ½ x 11” • Trimming the sections can be done by students – always consider safety

39. How to capture their attention • Tips for Putting the Pieces Together • Use colored construction paper, cardstock or folders for pockets • May wish to use heavier weight paper, even cardstock, for background and/or flaps • Laminate interactive pieces such as flaps and pockets to increase durability • Double-sided tape, removable poster tape or mounting squares can be helpful in putting the bulletin board together and posting it

40. How to capture their attention • Graphics/Credit • Identifier “N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health” and date must appear on the bulletin board • NCDHHS/DPH will have the license for the photos/graphics • Photo use must be consistent with the NCDHHS/DPH purchase agreement • Photos cannot be removed and used on other materials • Equal opportunity provider and employer statement must appear

42. How to capture their attention • Tips for Placement • Make sure you have permission to use an existing bulletin board or install a new one • Check with administration regarding any rules concerning bulletin boards • Make sure that the board is placed where students can easily see and access it • Think about where students naturally gather – look for a captive audience

43. How to capture their attention • Tips about Size • Bulletin boards range in size from 18” x 24” to 4’ x 8’ • Measure the space available • Consider if the theme and materials can fit on a small board • Consider whether the theme and materials will be lost on a large board

44. How to capture their attention • Tips for Backgrounds • Choose a background that can work with many different borders and accents • Try fabric – reusable, washable, won’t show staple or tack holes • Other options include a sheet, table cloth, butcher paper, wallpaper or wrapping paper

45. How to capture their attention • Tips for Borders • Choose eye-popping colors • Try 3-D objects • Use dynamic illustrations • Let the border set the tone for the bulletin board

46. How to capture their attention • Tips for Accents • Choose accents that incorporate key learning concepts • Use a variety of bright colors, large letters, 3-D objects and meaningful illustrations • Make it interactive: flaps to lift, pockets to fill, games to complete • Avoid overloading with visuals – balance and “white” space are key • Celebrate holidays or food/nutrition events • Update the theme and accents at least monthly

47. How to capture their attention • Tips for Student Involvement • Provide opportunities for students to design and assemble boards • Set up the basic background and let students take over • Students can learn through the design experience • Classrooms can rotate the responsibility of decorating boards • Offer a contest for the best classroom-designed board – students can vote for their favorite • Think of the bulletin board as a ‘student activity center’ – recipes, trivia, etc.

48. How to capture their attention • Tips for Staff and Other Involvement • Work with the art teacher, music teacher, PE teacher, classroom teachers, school nurse, PTA or others • Generate ideas together • Collaborate to pull together resources • Coordinate bulletin board themes with classroom lessons

49. How to capture their attention • Tips for Saving Materials • Save materials in resealable plastic bags, unused trash bags, pillow cases or storage boxes • Develop a file of ideas to avoid reinventing boards each year • Take photos of boards to make it easy to put them together again • If fabric is used, consider washing and storing it • Pull bulletin board supplies together in a tackle box for easy access • Discard old, faded and worn out materials

50. Strategy II: Making Smart Choices Using MyPlate • Promotes a deeper understanding of specific, common, nutrient-rich foods (“smart foods”) that fit into each food group • Focused on 100% whole wheat bread, sweet potatoes, citrus, 1% or fat free milk, dry beans and almonds Build a Healthy Plate…You’ll Feel Great!