"No more Mac and Cheese?! You don't say! Childhood obesity is taking the country by storm, and I am not one to sit back and let that happen. I teach 7th and 8th grade Family & Consumer Science classes. I try to spend a great deal of time learning about healthy eating and lifestyles. As an electi...
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"No more Mac and Cheese?! You don't say! Childhood obesity is taking the country by storm, and I am not one to sit back and let that happen. I teach 7th and 8th grade Family & Consumer Science classes. I try to spend a great deal of time learning about healthy eating and lifestyles. As an elective teacher, I have the ability to spend a lot of time with hands-on learning. Many students today don't know where their food comes from. If it isn't out of a package, they perceive it as gross, or tasting bad. Even in an agricultural based town, there is a gap between our town's history, and our student's realities. As a result, we have created a society of unhealthy youth, that for the first time in history, are predicted NOT to outlive their parents. Scary? I should say so! And core classes don't have time to dedicate to nutrition like I do in my classroom, at a time when kids still have a chance to change their habits and make better choices. I want to show students from start to finish how to produce healthy food that can taste great, and doesn't require a lot of time to make, while learning the roots of what they eat. This can easily be done by growing food right in our classroom. With on the counter herbs and vegetable gardens, each team of students can produce different crops. We can rate how quickly they grow, how much water they need, etc. until they are ready to harvest.
During harvest, students will create recipes and prepare dishes that use the food they grew to share with the class. The eventual goal is to start a garden on campus that can be harvested for mini food festival and cross curricular activities. But fear not! When we get to that point, the equipment we want now will not go to waste. We can use to it to begin the growing process during winter months when the outside temperature won't allow us to grow outside, and we can transfer plants back to the garden in the early spring. Obesity in America is going to destroy our youth. I lot of that comes from not knowing what they are eating, or how much to eat. Not enough time is spent on proper nutrition and eating lifestyle. This is your chance to help contribute to the process so kids can establish a healthy relationship to food and as a result, create stronger, happier kids that will be or future.
My students need 7 Root-Vue Farms, 2 Herb Gardens and 2 Gardening Books.
HIDE
Mrs. S. sent this note after the project was fully funded:
Dec 13, 2009
Dear Ann, Beth, Dee, Lauren, David Necessary, Xarissa, ALee, Ron, Cynthia and HP,
I can not express my excitement in knowing my project has been fully funded. It is a comfort and a joy to know that so many members of my community, and communities around the country, feel the same way I do about eating and our relationship with food. The timing is perfect, for I get a new crop of students (pun intended) in January. We are going to learn about the history of our agricultural community while we grow our own vegetables and herbs. It will be fun and exciting for the students to take ownership of the gardens, and later be able to use the foods we produce in cooking labs. I hope to inspire students to make healthier choices not only in their meals, but in their lives. I appreciate every thing you have done for my classroom by donating to this project. Thank you again. With gratitude,
Mrs. S.
Photos coming soon!
Region:
Arizona
Where is the classroom located? 
Submitted:
Sep 10, 2009
| Expires:
Feb 16, 2010
Reviewed the project essay and sent follow-up questions if needed.
Francie K. (volunteer)
on Sep 11, 2009
Verified the cost of the requested supplies and posted this project.
Ryan G. (associate)
on Sep 12, 2009
"I helped because I'm a strong believer in Nutrition education."
Cynthia
from Arizona
gave
in support of Arizona
on Sep 13, 2009
"Yeah Cynthia! Thank you."
The teacher Mrs. S.
on Sep 13, 2009
"I gave to this project because they have a very special teacher."
Ron
from Denver, CO
gave
on Sep 18, 2009
"I gave to this project because I also believe in their teacher! Plus, educating our youth (and adults) about healthy lifestyles is the answer to preventing and addressing health problems in America today."
ALee
from Texas
gave
on Oct 1, 2009
"I gave to this project because I liked the approach and think it will be effective with the students. I'm an educator and my daughter did the actual research on which project to support and we agreed on this one."
Beth
from Kansas City, MO
gave
on Oct 4, 2009
"HP is pleased to contribute to the Social Media Challenge and support teachers and students."
"I helped because I'm a strong believer in education."
Xarissa
from Virginia
gave
on Oct 20, 2009
"Thank you to my newest donations! I am one step closer to healthier kids."
The teacher Mrs. S.
on Oct 25, 2009
"I gave to this project because we used to live Arizona and we support better food choice for our kids."
David Necessary
from Midlothian, VA
gave
in support of Serious Eats' Brown Bag Challenge
on Oct 28, 2009
"I gave to this project because it's so important to teach kids about self-sufficiency and nutrition -- not to mention how much more food is appreciated when you cultivate it yourself! "
"Lauren & David, thank you both. I am more than half way there!"
The teacher Mrs. S.
on Oct 29, 2009
"I gave to this project because you guys are tops! Go have fun and learn some stuff!"
Ann
from Severna Park, MD
gave
on Dec 8, 2009
Project fully funded!
Happy news
on Dec 8, 2009
The teacher Mrs. S.
on Dec 13, 2009
Purchased the supplies for Mrs. S.'s classroom and notified the school principal of delivery.
Jenni D. (staff member)
on Jan 4, 2010
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