Just Move Alabama Curriculum Adds Educational Card Deck

The Just Move Alabama educational program developed by a team of Extension experts is having a strong effect on the lives and health of our state’s youth.

“Extension created the program to help fight Alabama’s growing population of overweight youth,” said 4-H Specialist Molly Gregg. “Obesity and adult onset diabetes have their origins in such factors as sugared beverage consumption, long hours of television viewing and reduced physical activity.”

Recently, a 4 ½ x 6 ½-inch laminated deck of cards was developed as an additional teaching tool for the program. The card deck features a 10-minute activity and a fun fact on one side and a nutritious recipe, nutrition facts label and food safety or fun fact on the other. Extension artist Bruce Dupree designed and created the illustrations for the card deck.

“The new card deck is a wonderful teaching tool and is so versatile that it can be used for pre-school kids through adults,” Gregg added.

The Just Move Alabama program helps young people increase their level of physical activity, teaches them to make healthy food choices and helps them appreciate and value all body types. One goal of the program is for youth organizations, such as 4-H, to contribute 10 minutes of physical activity towards a youth’s accumulative goal of 60 minutes daily. It has been incorporated into all 4-H programs and activities.

Just Move Alabama is for all youth in the state of Alabama and may be delivered in school classrooms, scouting programs, church youth activities, home-school associations and other youth gatherings. The program uses three teaching kits that teach a physical activity along with a lesson on nutrition and food safety and body image.

The Just Move Alabama program materials are available statewide. Teachers and others interested in purchasing the materials can contact their county Extension office to find out how they can get the materials.

Posted by dreynold at October 10, 2007 11:30 AM | TrackBack