Graduation 05\27\2010 (62 photos), by theresa trevino

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Can technology help child obesity?

Heart group backs video games in obesity campaign

By JOEL SCHECTMAN AP Business Writer © 2010 The Associated Press
May 17, 2010, 5:42PM
NEW YORK — Talk about strange bedfellows. The American Heart Association and Nintendo Co. are teaming up to promote the popular Wii video game console, as the health advocacy group concedes that its campaign for traditional exercise isn't working.
The surprising partnership, announced Monday, comes amid growing concern about obesity among kids who spend much of their time watching television and playing video games.
Nintendo will be able to brand its Wii products with the AHA's iconic heart logo to let consumers know that the organization considers the items a healthy choice. Nintendo will donate $1.5 million to the Dallas-based AHA as part of the partnership.
"We can keep beating the drum on traditional exercise and make small changes to the obesity epidemic, or we can try something that is really provocative and new," Clyde Yancy, the AHA's president, said in an interview.
Numerous studies show a correlation between obesity and the amount of time children spend with television and video games. Jeffrey Levi, executive director of Trust for America's Health, said the best solution is simply to cut the cord and encourage youths to spend less time in front of screens.
But the AHA said it is endorsing the Wii because it will encourage sedentary Americans to take the first step toward fitness. With 70 percent of Americans doing no regular physical activity at all, the AHA wants to find a way to reach out to people turned off by gyms and traditional sports.
The organization said its studies show that 40 percent of those who don't exercise say that it's not entertaining enough. The AHA says the Wii addresses the fun factor.
The Wii, which has sold more than 30 million consoles across the Americas, comes with a controller that encourages people to physically move as they play. Sports-style games such as baseball and boxing let players move their arms to simulate the pitching of a ball or the throwing of a punch. Nintendo also makes a foot pad accessory, the Wii Fit, that allows players to try dance steps or yoga.
The heart icon covers the Wii console itself along with two of its more active games, Wii Fit Plus and Wii Sports Resort.
Many of the Wii games are less physically demanding. Some puzzle titles, for instance, let players adjust shapes through small twists of the wrist.
Wii players say that the level of physical exertion varies greatly by player.
Maria Lambiris, an 18-year-old illustrations student at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, said the game system recently helped her lose five pounds.
"You really get into it sometimes and you can use your whole body," Lambiris said.
But her classmate Maki Yang, 19, was quick to point out that sometimes it's easier and more fun to cheat.
"You can just do this with your wrist," Yang said while flicking her wrist slightly, "and you do even better in the game."
But while many of the games may not offer the same level of physical activity as traditional sports, they may help get some people started on a healthier lifestyle.
"It is a first step for someone who is entirely sedentary," Yancy said.
Yancy said that once that person becomes motivated, he or she can access a website Nintendo and the AHA are developing to help monitor exercise and diet plans.
Rival game console makers Microsoft Corp. and Sony Corp., cognizant of the Wii's popularity, are also developing motion controllers. Microsoft's Natal, for instance, wouldn't require a physical controller; players would use their bodies to control their video game characters. The AHA said it wasn't currently in discussions with those companies.

Summer Reading Program

Sign up for the 2010 Summer Reading Program and earn a chance to win an HP mini netbook, board games, books, craft kits, coupons to cool restaurants, and more! This Year's Theme: From Fables to Fantasy!

The Summer Reading Program (SRP) is a free incentive program to encourage kids and teens to read.

The SRP includes many diverse free educational and fun programs including entertainers, storytimes, science activities, crafts and other fun programming for kids and teens up to 18 years of age.

PROGRAM DATES: June 1 - August 1, 2010

HOW TO REGISTER: Early online registration begins
May 1, 2010!
REGISTRATION CONTINUES THROUGH AUGUST 1: Visit any Houston Public Library location or register from your home computer, through August 1.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
Read or listen to books, enter book titles or time read on your online reading log either at home or with the help of your librarian, and come to your local Houston Public Library location to pick up your prize at 5, 10 and 20 book level.

The more books you read, the more prizes you are eligible to win. See YOU the summer!

Nutrition Survey

Parents,
Please take a moment to fill out this brief survey on how www.playnormous.com has impacted your child's life.

Click here to take survey

Shocking News - Childhood Obesity

Fun Extras!

Responses to our Cooking Lesson & Eating Healthy

Parents,
Here are some short video clips that were taken during and after our cooking lesson this last week! Thank you for sharing your child with me - they are just precious!

Garden Writing

What's On The Menu - Afterthoughts!

Here is what your child had to say about today's menu:

Jacob: I liked eating the yummy sauce.
Abbas: I liked making dough and putting it in the spaghetti machine.
Noah: I loved my smoothie. It tasted like yogurt!
Elizabeth: Cranking the machine was awesome!
Tara: The smoothie was delicious!
Emma: I was sort of nervous to try the smoothie but it was really yummy.
Emily: i tried something new and my mom will be SO surprised - she will say nothing!
Cooper: Cracking the egg was fantastic.
Austin: I thought I didn't like carrots! I had 2 plates of it!!!
Presley: I like the spaghetti so much!
Mitchell: I like putting yogurt in the smoothie.
Glen: I love the spaghetti sauce - it was fantastic!
Leo: I ate tomatoes in my sauce!
Thomas: I loved the eggplant in the sauce!
Creagon: Did you know that there was eggplant in the sauce? I liked it!
Laurie: I loved making the spaghetti sauce and the smoothie!
Sophie: I like the spaghetti because it had parmesan cheese on it.

Playnormous Shared Writing

Your child has worked so hard on this website! I can really tell that they are learning so much! Here is our reflection for today:

What's On The Menu?

On Wednesday, your child will be participating in a cooking lesson that will be filled with a wealth of nutrition. Below, you will find the recipe that we will use. After specials (10:40), your child will be able to go on a picnic and eat the food that he or she helped prepare. If you have a child - sized apron (or several we may borrow), please send it with your child to school. We will make sure they get home. Also, if you would like to prepare an alternate lunch in case they do not like what is being served, please feel free to do so!



Roast Vegetable Sauce (2 Cups)

1 Small Eggplant, cubed
1 Whole Garlic Clove
1 Tomato, cut into 6 wedges
1 Red Bell Pepper
1 Cup Carrots, chopped
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1/2 Cup Tomato Sauce
Pasta (I used tortellini filled with parmesan cheese from Trader Joes, but any pasta your little one enjoys will work)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Place the first 6 ingredients in a large glass dish dish or cookie sheet and combine. Make sure all of the vegetables are evenly coated with oil.
3. Bake for 45 minutes.
4. Cool for several minutes.
5. Place the vegetables in a food processor with the tomato sauce and puree until smooth.
6. Toss some of the sauce with pasta and serve.


Smoothie

2 Cups Vanilla Yogurt
1 Cup Fruit juice
3 Bananas
1 Cup Strawberries
Ice

1.Place Yogurt and Juice into the blender.
2.Add fruit and blend. (Frozen fruit may work in place of the ice)
3.Add ice if needed and liquefy using a blender.
4.Drink and enjoy!

Garden Update

Our class was so excited to grow some yummy vegetables! We started with cylinders of soil, and after our lesson from a master gardener, Mr. Palmie, we were on our way. We planted brocoli plants, green beans, green onions, and radishes. With plenty of sunshine and love, we are starting to see growth. Each day we take time to water the plants and measure their progress. It is fun to write about it in our plant journals, too. Grow, grow, grow little seeds...we are excited to eat you!

Your child learned how to play one of these games today with their learning buddy. We will have another opportunity to play them on Wednesday during our computer lab time. Please don't forget to respond to the questions below by clicking the "comment" button.

PLAYNORMOUS
Games for Health

PLAYNORMOUS
Games for Health

PLAYNORMOUS
Games for Health

PLAYNORMOUS
Games for Health

Parents - just have your child respond to the question as a "comment" to this blog. Thanks so much for your help!!!

1. How are Playnormous games used in your classroom or library?

2. Which one of our health games is your favorite and why?

3. Why should you be selected to win a free Monster iMac?

4. How have Playnormous games impacted you, your classroom, or your library?

I hope everyone received the flyer that went home last week about a free computer give-away for our classroom. This is very exciting because 3 of our SBISD schools have already won! Please have your child play around on this website and respond to what they have learned about being healthy on www.playnormous.com website.

What am I planting?

Garden

Plating a garden is fun and easy! Here is what they are learning:

Pictures

How Are You Peeling?

I ask this of my kids all the time! After reading this book to the class, I thought it would be an excellent way to incoporate vegetables into our life in a fun way! So, here is the challenge:

Over the weekend, purchase your child's favorite vegetable (or one that you wish they would like) and transform it into a feeling. I've posted a few pictures that the book had in it - so you have a clearer model. If while you are working on this project, have your husband, neighbor or older child take a picture of you and your Kindergartener so that we can show the home - school partnership.



In the meantime, check out this website and see how the book was made:
http://www.teachingbooks.net/Freymann

Information Going Home

Playnormous iMac Contest

Calling all parents!

2 of our Rummel Creek teachers have won an iMac computer for their classroom by entering a contest on www.playnormous.com. This website has some wonderful games that help teach your child about food and nutrition and making healthy choices for life!

For the next week or two, your child will be asked to play these games. Then, after they have had a chance to think about what they are learning, we will partner up with some older kids to help post their thoughts to this blog.

I also have some other activities that I will need your help with. They are totally optional - however, they will be photographed and used to make a class book and housed in our school library.

Keep checking back on this blog! In fact, become a follower and see what is going on!

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! This next month, we will be using it to help us learn about foods that are nutritious and yummy! Please bookmark this site so that you can find it easily on your computer!