Celebrating Healthy Texas Week: Information Elementary School

Instructions:

After morning announcements each day this week share these facts with your students about the day’s health topic and the goal of the day for Healthy Texas Week. Some days have suggested activities for both students and staff to help you reach your goal.

TIP: SAVE THIS DOCUMENT TO YOUR DESKTOP FOR EASY ACCESSIBILITY THROUGHOUT THE WEEK

Monday: Physical Activity

Facts

  • Regular physical activity in childhood and adolescence improves strength and endurance, helps build healthy bones and muscles, helps control weight, reduces anxiety and stress, increases self-esteem, and may improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels (CDC)
  • The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that young people aged 6–17 years participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily (CDC)
  • Adults should do at least 2.5 hours of aerobic physical activity at a moderate level each week, preferably spread out over 3 days (choosemyplate.gov)
  • Benefits of physical activity:

▪Less stress

▪Decreased blood pressure

▪Increased bone density

▪Decreased risk for diseases now and in the future

▪Perform better in school

▪Puts you in a better mood

Goal: Get at least 10 more minutes of physical activity today than I did yesterday

Student Activities:

  • Jumping Jacks – spell spelling words
  • Put on a song and dance in place
  • Play “Simon Says” – (Simon says… 5 jumping jacks, run in place, tap your head, do arm circles.. etc.)

Staff Activities:

  • Walk around the track with coworkers after school
  • Organize a staff basketball game after school
  • Park at the back of the parking lot when at the grocery store, etc.

Tuesday: Nutrition

Facts:

  • Proper nutrition promotes optimal growth and development in children (CDC)
  • Healthy eating is associated with reduced risk of many diseases, including the leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes (CDC)
  • Healthy eating helps reduce one’s risk for developing obesity, osteoporosis, iron deficiency, and cavities (CDC)
  • Healthy diets include a lot of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and fat-free and low fat dairy products (CDC)

Goal: Fill half of your lunch tray with fruits and vegetables today, or pack half fruits and vegetables in your home-made lunch tomorrow.

Student Activities:

  • Show Sesame Street Music Video: ;Ask students to name as many fruits and vegetables that were named in the song as they can remember
  • List a healthy food that starts with every letter of the alphabet -

Staff Activities: (RECIPES!)

  • 9 Healthy (and easy) snack ideas (RealSimple Gallery)
  • Don’t forget those veggies! Oven roasted Asparagus from Allrecipes.com:
  • More veggies! Grilled zucchini with sea salt:

Wednesday: Stress

Facts:

  • When your body is in danger your heartbeat speeds up, you breathe faster and your muscles tighten in order to allow your body to move quickly and escape the dangerous situation; this is called a stress response. This response is good when you are in danger, but it is only meant to last for a short burst of time.
  • Prolonged stress can affect your health and ability to cope with life
  • Routine stress may lead to serious health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression and anxiety
  • Regular physical activity helps calm stress
  • Learn to recognize and communicate feelings of stress

Goal: If you are feeling stressed today or before you take a test, think about the reasons why and communicate them with somebody you trust

Student Activities:

  • Brainstorm reasons kids get stressed
  • Brainstorm feelings that accompany stress
  • Brainstorm things that make you feel better when you get stressed
  • Take 3 deep breaths when you feel stressed

Staff Activities:

  • Brainstorm things that make you feel better when you are stressed
  • Stretch and breathe deeply for a whole minute when you are feeling stressed
  • Close your eyes, deep breathe, and envision paradise for a minute

Thursday: Sleep

Facts:

  • The promotion of regular sleep is known as sleep hygiene (CDC)
  • Sleep problems are associated with a number of the most common diseases in the United States such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and depression (CDC)
  • It is recommended for children to get 10-11 hours of sleep each night
  • The recommendation for adults is 7-9 hours each night

Goal: Go to bed on time and get the recommended amount of sleep for my age group tonight and for the rest of the week.

Student/staffSuggestions for falling asleep:

  • Count backward from 100
  • Relax your body
  • Stop screen time an hour before you go to bed

Friday: Water

Facts:

  • Water helps your body to

▪Keep a normal temperature

▪Cushion your joints and tissues

▪Get rid of waste

  • Your body loses water even just by breathing, which is why it is so important to stay hydrated
  • Dehydration can lead to exhaustion
  • Your body needs more water when

▪It is hot outside

▪You are being physically active

▪You are sick

Goal: I will choose to drink water today instead of drinking any sugar sweetened beverages, such as soda

No activities today – just drink water, and happy Friday!