Fri day, May 10, 2013

1. Mapping STEM into Childhood ObesityYolanda Hill, SA HHS CommitteeCori Cooper, Southern Area HHS Chair Friday, May 10, 2013

2. Objectives Review the existing childhood obesity curriculum Introduce STEM Identify STEM competencies in existing curriculum Develop activities within curriculum to support competencies

3. History of Childhood Obesity Initiative • Southern Area Pilot program • The Southern Area’s success in launching this program gave root to the National Childhood Obesity Initiative • Develop and implement strategies targeted to the specific health needs of African-American children • Increase awareness and heighten understanding surrounding the multi-dimensional issues that contribute to obesity in African-American children

4. National Childhood Obesity Initiative • Adoption of the Childhood Obesity Resolution at the 35th National Assembly in 2006 • The Links, Incorporated recognize the need for targeted intervention strategies that address and produce sustained results among African-American children battling obesity • develop an action-oriented agenda for disseminating key messages that aid in the prevention of childhood obesity among African-American children and to establish approaches that will strengthen collaborative networks regarding obesity prevention to sustain on-going health initiatives

5. Can you Imagine Me? Program Sessions Building Better Bodies Making Wise Choices Selecting Healthy Foods Physical Activity Healthy Meals Celebrating Your Healthier Family

6. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics What is STEM? Started by Judith A. Ramaley, the former director of the National Science Foundation’s education and human-resources division Designed to revolutionize the teaching of subject areas such as mathematics and science by incorporating technology and engineering into regular curriculum by creating a “meta-discipline”

7. STEM Diagram

8. Integration of Curriculum Transform the typical teacher-centered classroom by promoting a curriculum that is driven by problem-solving, discovery, exploratory learning, and students actively engaging in problem solving Typically, four components taught separately & independently STEM philosophy plays an integral part in teaching Science, engineering, and mathematics fields are made complete by the technology component, which provides a creative and innovative way to problem solve and apply what has been learned

9. STEM Education and Career Readiness National and Area Initiatives Mentoring Successfully reduces Childhood Obesity • Crafted out of The Links, Incorporated’s dedication to ensuring quality STEM education at all grade levels so that youth may be exposed to and prepared to study for STEM related careers • Through the National STEM Initiative, local chapters work to: • Close the STEM education gap • Integrate STEM educational programming K-16 • Facilitate mentoring opportunities • Prepare and encourage students to attend community college and/or a four-year college STEM related program • Prepare students of color to compete in the global workforce • Enhance STEM related career opportunities

10. Why Integrate STEM into Childhood Obesity? Little emphasis placed on nutrition education in schools Critical need for minority youth exposure to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education Childhood obesity is most prevalent in the African American community Racial gap among African American children and other racial groups in STEM educational initiatives With Childhood Obesity and STEM initiatives, The Links, Incorporated can make a significant impact in both areas by aligning nutrition education with STEM

11. STEM and Childhood Obesity Positive dietary behaviors can prevent the onset of overweight in children and associated negative health consequences. The current focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) skills and concepts in today’s K-12 classrooms demands that nutrition education curriculum align with these competencies. Nutrition is an ideal model for teaching and integrating STEM skills and concepts due to the breadth (basic to applied) and ‘relate-ability’ of the discipline. A STEM-based nutrition education program designed to improve STEM competencies and academic achievement and food choices and eating behaviors will reduce the risk for overweight and obesity in children.

12. STEM and Childhood Obesity Gunther, Bomser, Kaye, et al (2010) conducted a study to identify STEM competencies contained within our established nutrition education and behavior change program (Food Fit, FF), targeted to children and successfully implemented in afterschool settings To achieve this goal, a STEM map for 1 of the 11 FF lessons ("Choosing lower calorie snack foods”) was developed Demonstrated a number of concepts addressed in FF lesson 1 align with national STEM/STEM-based competencies (Figure 1, slide 13). These results indicate that there is potential for FF to serve as a model for developing a STEM-based nutrition curriculum suitable for entry into K-5 classrooms

13. STEM Map for Food Fit Lesson #1 Carolyn W Gunther, Joshua A Bomser and Gail L Kaye, April 2010

14. STEM Competencies STEM competencies are the set of cognitive knowledge, skills, and abilities that are associated with STEM occupations Competencies are the knowledge and skills that are necessary to be effective

15. STEM Influences: Body Mass Index Science: Collect data on weight and height Technology and Calculator Engineering: Measure height and weight Calculate BMI & Determine where they are on the BMI scale Mathematics: Graph and Plot on a Map

16. STEM Influences Collecting data on Food groups Science: Collect data on favorite foods Technology: Problem Solving Engineering: Classifying food into 5 food groups Mathematics: Make a table of the groups of favorite food and have a student graph the top (3) selections from each food group

17. Methods for integrating STEM competencies Science: Observation Technology: Problem Solving Engineering: Examine food labels Mathematics: Graph amount of carbohydrates, fats and protein of each food in a pie chart

18. Methods for Integrating STEM Competencies Science: Collect data & Observation Technology: Calculator, Problem solving, proportion and ratios of the foods Engineering: Determine calories from food labels Mathematics: Graph and Plot on a Map

19. Flow Chart Integration of STEM & Nutrition and Physical Activity • Nutrition & Physical Health • Science • Technology • Engineering • Mathematics • Data Collection • Observation • Problem Solving • Calculator • Food Choices • Nutrients • Calculation • Graphing • Plotting

20. Can you Imagine Me? and STEM Using Sessions 1—3 as an example 1. Building Better Bodies 2. Making wise choices 3. Selecting healthy foods

21. Childhood Obesity Curriculum & STEM Session One STEM Session One Objectives Describe the goals of the program Assess students’ attitudes about food and nutrition Establish personal goals for healthier lifestyles Activities Welcome and introductions Explore food as fuel to provide energy, comparing the human body with a machine, such as a car Photo session and goals Objectives Interpret collected data on perceived overweight Measure weight and height to determine body mass index to evaluate weight status Set goals to strive for healthier eating by making recommendations for inappropriate nutrient intakes Activities Welcome and Introductions Calculate/Find their own BMI Students Interviewing each other and review the foods they each and how they differ

22. Childhood Obesity Curriculum & STEM Session Two STEM Focused COP Objectives Identify food groups and nutrient values. Understand the USDA Food Pyramid Demonstrate ability to read labels and understand nutrient values. Activities Learn about calories and number of calories in carbohydrates, protein and fat. Identify food groups from My Pyramid for foods eaten the previous week Practice reading labels Objectives classify foods into the five food groups examine food labels Perform calculations for total calories, percent daily intake of carbohydrate, protein, and fat, and cholesterol intake Activities Classify foods into their appropriate food group (Worksheet) Graph all of the students favorite foods Food Group Collage Read food labels Determine number of calories in each label

23. Childhood Obesity Curriculum & STEM Session Three STEM Session Three Objectives Identify nutrient rich foods Understand serving size and portion Know how to select healthy snacks Develop healthy strategies for eating away from home Activities Discuss nutrient rich foods Practice determining serving size Examine snacking habits and identify healthy snacks Discuss healthy choices when eating out Demonstrate serving and portion sizes Determine the amount of sugar and fats in different foods Objectives analyze food choices evaluate their own eating habits identify their own and other family members caloric needs explain why different people have different caloric needs Activities Building my own pyramid Analyzing A Food Pyramid

24. Mapping STEM into Childhood ObesityYolanda Hill, SA HHS CommitteeCori Cooper, Southern Area HHS Chair Friday, May 10, 2013