FNP School Programs

Our staff brings a variety of presentations to the schools. Various teaching methods are used including story-time, video, puppets, music, and experiment. Handouts (coloring pages for the children), fact sheets and parent newsletters complement the program. The programs are all approximately 30 minutes in length and can be taught in a series format on a weekly or monthly basis at your convenience. Classes are free of charged and scheduled with teacher/school.

I hope you will be able to find the time to partner with the University of Illinois Family Nutrition Program. If you have any questions about the Family Nutrition Program, or would like to enroll please feel free to contact us at (217) 442-8615. School programs are currently scheduled to begin in September 2006.

My Pyramid Exploration: Level k- 8 grade

Is a program that teaches proper nutrition by using the Food Guidance System. Students will learn about each of the groups – grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, meat and beans, fats, oils and sweets. Using fun visual aids, games and sharing, students will learn more about how proper nutrition can help them.

Also available are individual lessons on:

Grains – Students will learn why grains are important in the diet; learn where they grow and what they look like. Students will even have a chance to see and taste a variety of grain foods.

Fruits and Vegetables – Students will learn why "5 to 9-A-Day is the Healthy Way". Students will learn to identify fruits and vegetables. Students will also get to taste and prepare snacks.

Milk Group – Students will learn that all ages need foods from the dairy group, and this program teaches why. Have fun learning about calcium by doing hands-on activities. Milk, Cheese, Yogurt: Students will be given materials that will help to educate them on having 3-A-Day of Dairy.

Meat and Beans Group – Students will learn the importance of protein. They will learn about and taste protein rich foods.

Find the Fat - We will do an experiment to see if we can mix fat and water. The students are going to have the opportunity to make homemade butter, taste the butter and, taste buttermilk. They are going to learn the healthy option of fat free or low fat foods.

Glow Germ Hand Washing: Level K-12 grade

This program starts the school year off right by teaching students how to wash their hands properly. Students will learn what happens when hands are not properly washed and how germs on hands can cause a runny nose, coughs, tummy aches, and various other illnesses. Through the aid of Germ Glow and the Glow Bug, this program uses hands-on activities to demonstrate how effectively or ineffectively students wash their hands. The students will apply Germ Glow, wash their hands and then place their hands under the magic Glow Bug that reveals how well the students washed their hands. The students will learn that scrubbing off the Glow Germ Lotion takes some effort on their part just like germs that might be on their hands.

Reading Food Labels – Students will learn how to read food labels. They will be able to identify Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, Protein, Fiber, etc through a fun hands-on activity.

"Eat a Good and Healthy Breakfast": Start the morning off right is the message from "Weinerville" puppets. The new classes will watch the "Weinerville" video. The students that participated last year will do an experiment.

The Smart Snack Creation: Through discussion and activities, students learn about kitchen sanitation and safety. The program teaches children how to use their imagination, have fun and learn new ways to create nutritious healthy snacks. Students follow directions to prepare a healthy snack and taste test.

What is so special about Water? Students are going to learn that water is important to maintaining a healthy body, and how much water we need each day.

Choose a Healthy and Active Life Style: Children are introduced to the differences between active and inactive behaviors, and learn that excessive inactivity can lead to an unhealthy life. The program engages children in a fun way to be more active and increase their physical activity. Children learn different games and eat a healthy snack.