Nutrition Training-FCS Teachers

Problem:
The ten Des Moines middle schools Family Consumer Science teachers were recruited by the Polk County Youth program to provide match for a BASICS project funded by the IDPH Food Stamp Nutrition Program. The BASICS program called "Show Em What You Got" was funded for the 2004-2005 school year. The match was based on the time the teachers provided in classroom, teaching nutrition in addition to existing programs and using new information and materials provided by the grant.

Extension Response:
The Nutrition/Health Field Specialist in Central Iowa developed and taught a 16 hour series (5 two-hour workshops + 6 hours homework). Each session included 1) nutrition update for the focus topic, 2) hands-on activities for teachers to use in classroom instruction, and 3) new teaching materials to supplement teaching provided by the grant. The five session focus topics were 1) Nutrition Facts Label and Promote Produce, 2) Dietary Guidelines and Portion Control, 3) Calcium Consumption, 4) Food Safety, and 5) Sugar, Salt and Fat. Area Education Agency in-service credit was offered for the teachers.

Impact:
From October through April teachers reported hours of match for the BASICS project for a total of $20,000. A total of 3,200 students received enhance nutrition education because of the teachers training.  A total of 10 teachers participated in the series and 9 teachers completed the AEA credit. A second series for the teachers is being planned in Fall, 2005 using the suggested topics for the teachers. April, 2005, a follow-up session was held with the teachers to reconnect and evaluate the project. Selected reactions from the group are as follows:

What changes have you made in your curriculum as a result of the Fall, 2004 nutrition series?

1. "I am teaching much more about eating fruits and vegetables. I knew it was important but did not have a good idea how to teach for student change. The color activity impressed the students."
 
2. "All of the nutrition web sites that were introduced to us were helpful but the one on Portion Control was especially useful. Since I can't always be sure the Internet will work in my room, I made color overheads of the pages so I can always use them to reinforce portions."      

3. "Food Safety is hard to teach, but with my renewed enthusiasm after the class, I felt I had an obligation to teach my students about this important issue."
        
Which hands on activities did you incorporate into your teaching as a result of the training? While the group recounted that "all" of the activities were useful, selected comments were: 

1. "The Vital Signs materials were very useful. I placed a new one in my room each week and it cause good discussion."
        
2. "The sugar, fat and salt tubes really impressed the students. They were especially surprised about their favorite foods like potato chips, muffins and soda pop."
        
3. "The food safety activities and teaching items were especially helpful in foods lab. The 90 second video about hand washing caused many students to gasp when the man did not wash his hands."

Summing up the whole group one teacher shared, "I totally reconstructed my nutrition curriculum using the information and materials from the workshop. Thank you for all the training."

Would you participate in future nutrition series and what topics would you advise for the series? 100% responded yes and suggested 1)obesity and nutrition, 2) recipes to help teach the 2005 Dietary Guidelines, and 3) incorporate measurement skills in work to enhance Math skills.
        
Contact:
Susan B. Klein, Nutrition/Health Field Specialist
Iowa State University Extension
5201 NE 14th Street
Des Moines, IA  50313-2005
515-263-2704 (fax)
515-261-4213 (direct line)
Email sklein@iastate.edu