Hands-on activities help children learn

By Lynn A. Wade

Nevada Daily Mail

Programs like Food Power, a presentation from the University Extension and Outreach Nutrition Services aimed at helping elementary school children make positive, healthy food choices, show that hands-on activity engages and educates young minds, according to Patty Hallam, Truman Elementary principal.

"It does go with our curriculum," Hallam said, but it's also an effort to promote good health in the community in a way that seems to reach the children.

Hands-on activities at stations set up by high school vocational health education and drama students provide a fun environment for presenting information on the role of foods and hygiene in children's lives. Health occupation and drama students pitched in on the program, manning the stations, donning costumes and providing voices.

Hallam said the hands-on aspect of the event makes it more memorable -- and more fun -- for the students.

Tuesday and Wednesday, students in second through fifth grade participated in the events, but there's more to it than that, Hallam pointed out.

The hands-on activities will be supplemented by other activities provided to teachers to conduct in the classroom.

Even the cafeteria is participating.

"They're providing samples of fruit and vegetables -- brussels sprouts, cabbage, cucumber slices, fruit of all kinds -- and they're offering an incentive to the kids who try it. And a lot of the kids are doing it. Sometimes it's something they've never tried before, sometimes it's something they may not have tasted in a long time, but it's really encouraging how many of them are trying those samples," Hallam said.

The surprise reward for trying the samples has been kept a closely guarded secret by cafeteria staff, Hallam said, but the students "seem to be going ahead with it on faith that it will be something good."

The program -- and the support of time and materials from the University Extension is "very, very much appreciated," Hallam said, "And this kind of hands-on learning is the way children learn best -- by doing -- when they can be active and interactive and don't have to just sit there and take it all in."