Success Story: Project "P.H.A.T. (Physically Healthy Adults of Tomorrow) Kids" Implemented in Yadkin County Elementary and High Schools
Yadkin County school teachers created Project P.H.A.T. (Physically Healthy Adults of Tomorrow) Kids to address the increasing need for updated health education and physical activity resources in local schools. The need was recognized after Yadkin County teachers completed a survey prior to the 2004-05 school year, and many reported they were still using nutrition and health information from film-strips and videos that were at least ten years old.
The Yadkin County Health Department, Yadkin County Healthy Carolinians, and the Yadkin County School system partnered to develop Project P.H.A.T. Kids. Lending libraries were developed in each of the eight elementary schools, which include grades K-8, and two high schools. The schools have been provided with new materials for teachers to use in the classroom, as well as student materials that can be checked-out and taken home. The Yadkin County Health Department and Yadkin County Healthy Carolinians also purchased resource materials that will be available to teachers, students, and parents. The name of the project puts a positive twist on the word we've all come to hate - FAT. The goal is for students to associate being PHAT with being healthy. Project P.H.A.T Kids supports an enhanced focus on lifelong nutrition and lifelong physical activity in all Yadkin County Schools.
“ I can't believe all of the new stuff you gave us. Our kids are going to love it and so am I! This will really make teaching health and nutrition a whole lot easier for all of our teachers!”
Brenda Pardue, 3rd grade teacher, West Yadkin Elementary School
The Road to Success
The Project P.H.A.T. Kids team compiled the results from the teacher's surveys on availability of teaching resources for physical activity and nutrition and created a master list. The team used funding from the Eat Smart, Move More…NC community grants program to purchase materials for lending libraries. The lending libraries house books, videos, games, lesson plans, food models, a classroom set of pedometers, and other learning aids for teachers, students, and parents. Subject areas for materials in the lending library include physical activity, nutrition, body image, advertising, eating disorders awareness, and self-esteem.
The lending library has a special section in the school's media center, and materials are monitored by school media coordinators. Teachers keep a list of the materials that can be checked out of the lending library as well as a list of nutrition and physical education resources available on the internet. The development of this library greatly increased the quantity and quality of materials available to classroom and physical education teachers and will help them teach nutrition skills and lifetime physical activity concepts.
Physical education teachers also received funding to purchase physical education equipment focusing on the development of lifelong physical activity in children. This equipment will complement the implementation of the Spark PE Program in elementary schools. Finally, in order to further promote the inclusion of additional minutes of physical activity and instruction on nutrition in the classroom, Project P.H.A.T. Kids provided additional copies of "Take 10!" and "Food For Thought" curricula to teachers in grades kindergarten through fifth grade.
The lending library and physical education equipment is available for students in the current school year as well as for subsequent school years is greatly enhancing the quality of education received by Yadkin County students. Materials will be added to the lending libraries whenever funding sources become available. Due to the success of this project, many teachers are researching funding opportunities to help sustain it.
Stepping Stones...
Feedback from teachers on the materials needed by each individual school was an essential component of this project’s success. Teachers will be more likely to use materials which meet the specific needs of their students and schools.
Coordinating the implementation of the libraries with each individual media coordinator was crucial in assuring the lending libraries were organized and integrated correctly.
Schools do not routinely receive funding to replace old, out-of-date materials, especially materials used for physical activity, health, and nutrition.
Contact Information
Name, Title: April Pardue, Health Promotion Coordinator:
Agency: Yadkin County Health Department
Address: 403 E. Main Street
City, State, Zip: Yadkinville, NC 27055
Phone: 336-679-4651
Fax: 336.679.6358
Email: healthync@yadtel.net
