AppleTree 2009

Washington, D.C.

http://appletreeinstitute.org/index.php

Faculty Team Leader: Mary Beth Levin, MPH

SL Team Members: Oswaldo Aguirre, Jennifer Hunt, Jessica Lum, Kevin Motz, Patricia Pang, Sadhana Rajamoothi

Key Community Partners: Principal Ross HaroldFaculty & Staff of AppleTree Early Learning Public Charter School

Audience: 4 year-old students & parents/guardians Majority are African-American

“Public charter school” Tuition: free for DC residents Application required

Location: Southwest DC, Ward 6

GOAL: Prevent development of achievement gaphttp://www.opc-dc.gov/ns/images/DC_Ward.gif

Nutrition◦ My Pyramid◦ Sometimes foods vs. always foods

Hygiene ◦ Washing hands and brushing teeth◦ How to sneeze and cough without spreading

germs Exercise

◦ Simple exercises and stretches Science Education

◦ Looked at models of the eye, heart, and skeleton

Used models to educate children on different body parts

Related nutrition to our bodies◦ Carrots are good for your eyes!◦ Milk makes your bones strong!!◦ Oranges keep you from getting sick!!!

Reinforced lesson plans by reading a book at the end of each session

On the final day, we reiterated messages of nutrition, hygiene, and exercise

“Our eyes!”

“MMM….carrots!”

“Our hearts are right here!”

“Is that what I’m going to look like when I grow up?”

A wealth of most up to date health knowledge A source of educational reinforcement apart from

AppleTree Staff Access to numerous health resources: learning

aides, anatomical models, educational material

RESULTS:◦ Liked the taste of nutritious foods◦ Distinguishing between “always foods” and “sometimes foods”◦ Able to identify location and maintenance of different body

parts◦ Improved hygiene

EVALUATION:◦ Presented different scenarios

‧ E.g. “Should you drink milk or soda with your lunch? Why?◦ Asked for demonstrations

‧ E.g. “Can you show me what I should do if I need to cough?”◦ Story time

‧ Asked questions about story that related to activities

Impact on AppleTree Students◦ Increased awareness of healthy lifestyle habits◦ Increased open-mindedness to different and healthier

choices◦ Positive influence that emphasized holistic education

Impact on us◦ Enhanced communication skills◦ Learned to simplify medical concepts◦ Improved our ability to connect with a younger age

group◦ Gained an appreciation for positive reinforcement and

preventive medicine

Obstacles◦ Adjusting to differences in social and environmental

backgrounds ◦ Integration of essential lifestyle habits in a simple yet

fun manner

Recommendations◦ Request the teachers to aid in the facilitation of

activities◦ Enforce allotted time for each activity/station◦ Choose specific themes for each week (ex: cardio-

week 1, dental hygiene- week 2)◦ Establish a calendar with specific plans and

assignments at the beginning of the project