Final ImagineIT Report
Looking back at the two phases, I have learned that implementing my project requires a blend of activities that include all learning styles, a lot of visuals, videos, and hand-on activities. Since my students are interested in what’s going on around them, using facts that are known to them and photographs that they find appealing will make them react and learn more about the topic.By exposing them to the consequences of unhealthy eating , my students reacted in the way that showed they want to explore more about the causes that make people obese. I really got my students attention and at the same time got them thinking about how people become like that.I want to guide their interest finding out what is making people sick. From the focus group and teaching demonstration I learned that my students were very sensitive to the photographs that showed overweight people. In my demonstration ,I incorporated photographs of diverse population and different age ranges so they could see that it is a problem for everybody. These photographs took over the other ones and made them conclude that people get fat because they eat too, much regardless of the type of food and servings they were consuming. However,this reaction is a good beginning, to keep them rolling on their ideas and implementing my project. Since this produced a “positive reaction”, I would use the obesity scenario suggested by a colleague as my main case to lead discussions and investigations among my students.I see that this topic of unhealthy food can be integrated into any subject and how widespread it can be at the same time. I have been searching different but appropriate, fun and graphic activities for my students to do in my project. Among these ideas are sorting groceries to introduce the five food groups, where students brainstorm what they know about the food plate and food groups, and then place pictures of food in the correct food group on the food plate. Another is conducting research about a disease related to unhealthy diet where students will define what the disorder is, list 10 facts to know about the disease including causes and consequences, and make either a PowerPoint ,poster, or other visual with the information on it. Other approaches include nutrition research about estimated calorie requirements for their age group where students have to convert the measurements of the daily amount of food; using internet and spreadsheets to find calories and fat in a typical fast food meal and have them compare the amount of calories between fast foods;and having students create a balanced meal using the food pyramid and products; There are a lot of things I can do to help my students learn more about nutrition and at the same time to incorporate math, language arts and science into my imagine project.