My students need bulletin board supplies, posters, and games to learn about nutrition and why it is important for them make healthy choices when choosing a meal.
This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
Have you ever been in a school setting where more than 30% of the students are overweight, obese, or malnourished? Well, that's the environment I teach in. Students know very little about healthy choices, and they have parents who seem to care even less. I feel responsible for helping them over this hurdle.
My students live in the state of Illinois.
They live in one of the most impoverished, downtrodden, depressing neighborhoods in the state. They are bright and eager, yet they lack the ability to make good choices when it comes to nutrition. They are taken in by the commercials on television and the billboards in their neighborhoods that use every ploy possible to get them to continue on a path of self-destruction due to poor diet.
These children are at an impressionable age when it is possible for them to learn better eating habits. When it comes to nutrition, they basically learn by example and are willing to make changes that they feel are reasonable. At our school, we have partnered with nutritionists who come in to encourage the students to try new fruits and vegetables. Because they get to see, smell, taste, and touch, our students look forward to each visit.
A full 90% of our students eat free breakfast and lunch at school. If they remain after school, they get a third meal.
My Project
I have made attempts to encourage my students to eat a healthy diet. When they are in the lunch line carrying their sugary drinks and snacks, I ask them to step out of line so that we can read the label. Some of them listen and take note, while others are reluctant to change.
While waiting to receive their meals, some of the students spend time discussing the nutritional posters outside the cafeteria. The students are attracted to the colorful food items they see. They hold discussions about the various portions of food displayed on the posters. These students are at an impressionable age in their lives and if I can convince them to change their eating habits, thus decreasing their risk of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and juvenile diabetes, it will be worthwhile.
My students need bulletin board supplies, posters, and games to learn about nutrition and why it is important for them make healthy choices when choosing a meal. Informational posters like the ones I chose also brighten up our school. It is helpful to have one outside the cafeteria and one in the gym for reinforcement while they learn the importance healthy nutrition and diet.
Receiving donations for this project will have great impact on my students.
Like they say, "Knowledge is power." Once my students know the ins and outs of good nutrition and healthy portions, they can become ambassadors for their families and community. Where I teach, there is a high percentage of heath problems including high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. I believe education about good nutrition and diet portions is extremely important.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. HOLMES and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.