ED223: Field Observation 6

Date: 11/30
Your Name: Kelcey Miller

15 Points

Due

Date of Observation: Thursday, October

27, 2016
Name of School, Center or Site: West Point Elementary School

Type of Program:

th

4 Grade Science Class

Age of Children:
9-10 years old

Time of

Observation: 2:00 to 3:30

Number Present: Teachers: 1 Teacher and 1 Paraprofessional
Children: 22

Observational Task: Review and document a school district or

learning centers policy on health and nutrition
1. Read the entire policy and type up a brief summary
2. Discuss with classroom teacher, principal, or parent. Ask them to
reflect on changes to the policy over time and their opinions as to the
policies. Type up the responses.
3. Reflect on nutritional policies in schools.

Hempfield Area School Districts policy on health and nutrition is quite

extensive. It mentions that the school board is committed to providing an
environment that promotes wellness, proper nutrition, nutrition education,
and regular physical activity as part of the learning experience. The board
has established a Wellness Committee composed of at least one of each of
the following individuals: School Board member, district administration,
district food service representative, student, parent or guardian, and
member of the public. A teacher, nurse, coach, or dietitian may also be part
of the committee. The Wellness Committee is responsible for creating and
implementing a Student Wellness Policy that complies with the law. The
policy also contains a section about nutrition education. It states that
nutrition education will be provided within the health education program. The
goal of nutrition education is to teach, encourage, and support healthy
eating. A lifelong balance will be reinforced by connecting nutrition education
with physical activity. Under the section regarding nutrition promotion, it is
mentioned that nutrition messages will be displayed throughout the district,
schools, and cafeterias. The schools will encourage parents and guardians to
provide healthy meals for their children by distributing newsletters and takehome materials. The next part of the policy focuses on physical activity. It
states that age-appropriate physical activity opportunities will be provided
before and after school in addition to planned physical education. Extended
periods of inactivity lasting two hours or more will be discouraged. Under the
physical education component of the policy, it mentions that quality physical
education instruction shall promote lifelong physical activity.
After reading the policy, I discussed it with Mrs. Hamill, a fourth grade
science teacher. I asked her if the policy on health education has changed
over time. She told me that the fourth grade classrooms used to use a
hardback book called Totally Awesome Health. There were no supplemental
materials with the book. Now, they use The Great Body Shop for their
health curriculum. There is no book, but there is a magazine for each topic.
There is also a website with the curriculum. It contains activities and games
related to the health topics. One of the topics for the unit is nutrition. The
students learn about meal planning using the different food groups of My
Plate. This part of the unit emphasizes Standard 3.4.4.E1: Identify tools and
devices that have been designed to provide information about a healthy
lifestyle. Mrs. Hamill told me that health is taught after the science kits are
complete. A small amount of time is spent on health because it is pushed to
the end of the year. Mrs. Hamill said that health education is important for all
students. She feels that it should be taught more often than just at the end
of the year. I also discussed the health and nutrition policy with Mrs. Morani,
the gym teacher at West Point. She told me that the policy has definitely

changed over the years. The cafeteria used to only serve food that appealed
to the children. Now, they serve healthier options. They serve a vegetable
with each meal. If the students try the vegetable, they get a sticker. For
example, if the students tried broccoli, they would get a sticker that said, I
tried broccoli! Mrs. Morani concluded by saying that she is glad that
healthier foods are being served in the cafeteria. She mentioned that a
childs food choices really have an impact on their lives, so it is important to
introduce them to healthy foods when they are young.
Nutritional policies are very important for schools. They outline how
student wellness will be promoted. It is crucial to educate students on the
benefits of a healthy diet and regular exercise, especially in todays society
where childhood obesity is a serious problem. Obesity is caused by unhealthy
eating patterns and a lack of physical activity. The condition causes
numerous health problems that follow a child into adulthood. For these
reasons, teachers need to educate students about the benefits of a healthy
lifestyle when they are young.

Type a one page rationale/reflection about your observation. Include your

perceptions, thoughts, opinions, and reflections on your time in the
classroom. Include a PA Academic standard that ties to the specific
observation with an explanation.