AppleTree Early AppleTree Early Learning Public Learning Public Charter SchoolCharter School

AppleTree Early AppleTree Early Learning Public Learning Public Charter SchoolCharter School

2007-20082007-2008Introduction to Health CareIntroduction to Health Care

The Team

Mary Beth, John, Anthony, Scott, Rose, Warren, Tom

What is AppleTree?The AppleTree Institute for Education

Innovation’s mission is to fill the demonstrated need in Washington DC for an

accelerated early language and literacy education program to the underserved three and four year olds. This push for early access

to an enriching experience is aimed at increasing their chances for success and thus

raising the bar for their future academic achievement. The service learning team made eight visits to help complement the

already rich educational program by focusing on the after-school program and highlighting

nutrition, health, and literacy.

Nutrition:Goals:• Guide the eating habits of the children by showing them healthy foods• Masking healthy foods as fun snacks• Expand the repertoire of healthy foods in the childrens’ diets• Allow them to realize that the foods they eat help them develop strong bones,

big muscles, etc.Activities:• Vegetable Tasting• Fruit Tasting • Coloring healthy foods both on vegetable day and fruit day• Fun Snacks: Sand-Cups & Ants on a log• Calcium/Dairy day: String cheese• Green Eggs & Ham - **CROSS OVER ACTIVITY** both for piquing interest in

reading as well as an activity involving protein rich foods• Reading Protein MachineLessons Learned:• It is very beneficial to have food and snacks on hand to form an immediate

attachment of interest. By allowing the conversation to revolve around the food and the snack, it gives the child focus and a point of reference when learning to build the ideas. Additional materials like food pyramids and other healthy eating guides were sent home with the children to discuss with their parents.

Did it work? – We think it did. When they started to tell us stories of going home and asking for the newer, healthier foods for dinner. Adding it to their diet (as a desired food) is what we were hoping for in the long run, a healthy change to their nutritional intake.

Fun Snacks

Health:Goals:• Brushing teeth and its importance to dental hygiene• Washing hands and its importance to general health and wellness• Exercise and physical activityActivities:• Reading “Buddy Brush” and using coloring book• Giving the children each a toothbrush with toothpaste and actually instructing them on the

proper way to use a toothbrush. (They were able to take these home and use them at home.)• What do we do after we are outside/before we eat? We wash our hands. Singing happy

birthday while washing to ensure the proper amount of time. Using warm water when possible. When water is not a possibility – using a hand sanitizer is favorable.

• Basic exercise instruction with the reasons why it is important. • Skeleton: **CROSS OVER ACTIVITY** • Outdoor playground exercise• Playing Simon Says• Using a stethoscope to allow them to listen to the heart and understand the difference

between resting heart and exercising heart (after short sprint).Lessons Learned:• The health component is something that was important for us to add into the curriculum.

Something overlooked in young children, it builds their future. Always easy to have children’s attention when you have gifts or a prop – toothbrushes and toothpaste, skeleton, and food also works well.

Did it work? We think it did. When one of the young children got so excited when we gave the toothbrushes “to keep” she stated, “I don’t have a toothbrush at home!” That was the moment we realized this was a necessity and was incredibly integral to their early learning education.

Healthy Activities

Literacy:Goals:• Foster a love of reading and an interest in the written word• Pique the interest of the younger children to desire to have people

read them books (Dr. Seuss and other children’s authors)Activities:• Reading Dr. Seuss “Horton Hears a Who” and “Green Eggs and Ham”

which illustrate the important of acceptance (“A person’s a person, no matter how small”) as well as the significance of trying new things that are out of the ordinary but may be healthy/fun.

• Reading “Curious George” to allow them someone to relate to – a young chimpanzee that gets into trouble for being curious which is something that young children can relate to.

Lessons Learned:• Keeping them focused on the story is fairly easy if it is done as a

group effort. When they see that we are all paying attention, they are more inclined to also hone their attention on the story/reader. Also, animated reading with voices adds to the overall experience for the children.

Did it work? We think it did. On the final day, we decided to revisit the story “Horton Hears a Who” and at the end, one of the children asked if we could read it again. When we informed them that we were actually giving them the copy of Horton with our picture in it, they got overly excited and all rushed to hold the book that would now be added to their library collection.

Literature Activity

Successes and Failures:Success!• Structuring our time with three stations worked well. Usually an opening station,

involving the overarching theme of the day (color day, exercise day, protein day, calcium day, hygiene day, etc.) This was usually followed by a food activity where they got a snack that applied to that day’s theme. The third activity was usually a group activity like Simon Says or reading a story. Some days involved a third activity of coloring or another non group activity.

• Getting the children interested in learning by coupling each educational session with a stimulating activity, so they can begin to associate learning with fun.

• Keeping small groups separate to minimize their distraction and to increase individualized attention.

• Working in small groups for the more focused education parts and the tasting/snack sessions. Opening into larger groups was good for the larger activities where it was easier to use the group dynamic to steer the focus.

• Activities with food and snacks.• Decreasing their fear of trying new things.• Repetition is Key! While we may not like going back over and over again – it appears

that children do, being able to fully learn a goal or activity and then having the correct response.

• Positive feedback and positive reinforcement. Positive words are very important to use with this developmental age as this is the time when they are formulating their self-identity. Using phrases like “Good Job!” “That’s correct!” and giving complements like “That is a nice coat!” or “Thank you!”, etc. was important and the group was conscious to fully implement this aspect of their education.

• Sending important things home for the parents to utilize and learn with their children. Let’s try it another way.• The Protein Machine book was a bit over their heads. They had ease identifying foods

as healthy, but difficulty understanding protein rich foods.• Explaining the food pyramid.• Time Flexible – keep to objectives not to time