Reflections: week 15 & 16

~Hello Everyone!!~

Wooow, I cant believe this is my last post. I have to say thank you to my little web-group for all your wonderful insights throughout this semester. Also, to all my classmates for your stories and sharings every week. It was a great class to be a part of, and I am really happy I have had this opportunity to get to know you all better.

So, for this last 2 weeks, I dont have much else to say, but here is a minor break down :)

Week 15:
Sadly, I was gone the day Sue came into the class to talk about 'junking'. But I did really like the last day, where we got to finally venture outside and just chat about the semester as a whole. It was really nice to hear about what everyone else thought about everything we have learned.

Week 16:
Not much to report here, I went home and chilled haha! It was amazing...so much needed!!

So with that, I hope you are all finding time to unwind and relax. Have a great summer, and I look forward to seeing you all next semester...if not before :) See you!!!

Eye Opener: Online Learning Activities

~Hey Guys!~

I have to say, my web-group is a wonderful group of kiddos, and their online learning activities did not fail to impress me :) Here were their ideas....

Valerie ~ Health Care Wheel of Fortune

This was a hang-man type of game, where you were given empty boxes of the letters of a word, all the letters of the alphabet to choose from, and a time clock clicking up. If you dont complete the puzzle in the time allotted, then well your just screwed, and rightfully so you dont get to play anymore. I got a score of 337 my first game, and I am just about to start my second one...uh oh, looks like another online game Ill be addicted to. Great, thanks Valerie...

Noah ~ Health IT Puzzle

I really liked Noah's idea, he choose to create something on his own since he couldnt find an activity he liked especially well that was already created. I thought that was awesome! It was very challenging indeed, I am not good at crosswords in the first place (wordfinds tho??...I am queen), so I knew it would be a challenge from the get-go.

Shannon ~ The Food Groups Game

Shannon found a great game online. It is an interactive matching game for kids, where you have foods to drag to their respective group in the food group. I played it, and it was fun for even me ha! The food groups all danced when you completed them, so it was cute :) I could definitely see this being a great tool to teach kids the food groups, and what goes where.

Sara ~ Stop Smoking Quiz

This was a great quiz found by Sara. You answered one question at a time, followed by a bit more info associated with each question. I learned some new things.....
The fact that smoking regularly takes 15 to 25 years from a life is astonishing!! So sad :( And the poor little spermies of men that smoke...all they want to do is swim!! And then they're inhibited by such toxins...another sad fact. But this quiz was great, your right Sara, I did learn many new things from taking it. Good one!!

Great job Web group!! Its been such a pleasure reading your posts all semester :)

Have a wonderful summer!!

Advocacy Project: Healthy Kids :)

~Hello Everyone!~

Health in general is an issue that I am very passionate about and really do my best to be such. I really hope someday to be in the position to help others achieve their greatest human potential, and for them to find it from a base of treating themselves respectfully and with gratitude. This is why I chose this topic for my advocacy project focus: Healthy Kids.

As you all know, the issue of overweight children is more prominent now than ever before in history. And more so, if this generation does not learn to behave differently, they will only continue to slide furthur and further down the wrong path. I feel, as a future health educator, knowledge as well as action of what it means to lead a healthy life must be a focus as they get older.

So, I found this great site that has lots of great info and an interactive quiz made just for kids and targets this growing issue. Here are some helpful websites I found that give more information if your interested in reading. Enjoy!!

Quiz

Facts about heart disease and children
Overweight in children
Fun recipes for kids

~I hope you are all doing well, see you tomorrow!!~

Reflections: week 13 & 14

~Hey Guys~

These 2 weeks were awesome....

Week 11:
We were able to get out of the classroom and to the outdoors this week to learn the ways of the wilderness..which was AMAZING!! I enjoy anytime outside, and this was really cool to me because I remember learning my navigation skills as a Girl Scout, but other than that I'd be screwed in a forest. So that was really cool to get the opportunity to venture in the wild, and learn a little insight into navigation through such.

Week 12:
Ok, so ever since Dr. V. brought on the topic of "Stuff", I find myself looking at things around me differently.... Like.."what else could that box/glass container be used for?"...and..."Reusing this object in this way would help the environment in _______ way".... I have to say, I am pretty dang stooked to have this new mindset. It seems as if this whole semester has really been quite an eye-opening experience for me in this respect, and this last week was no exception. I love this whole concept. Thanks Dr. V.!!!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, and are prime and ready for the home-stretch. FINALLY!!!! Take care....see you in class!!!

Advocacy Project: Letter to Public Official

Samantha Hough
1717 Birds and Bees Ct
Duluth MN, 55812

April 29, 2009

Sen. Amy Klobochar
1200 Washington Ave. S., Suite 250
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(612) 727-5220

RE: Support for Bill S.581:

Senator Klobochar,

I am a concerned citizen asking for your support in the amendment of the bill S.581. Bill S.581 goes as follows:
A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to require the excluion of combat pay from income for purposes of determining eligibility for child nutrition programs and the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children.

As is widely known, the obesity rate in the United States has reached a level of major concern. In the past 20 years, obesity rates have continuously increased. Over half of the states are between 25-29%, with three states exceeding the 30% mark. The only state below 20% is that of Colorado as of 2007 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008).

This staggering trend is sure to continue as it has if there is not proper action taken to reverse it. Therefore, I ask for your support in passing the bill S.581, which will remove some of the obstacles that get in the way of properly equipping our youth with leading a healthy future. Funding is an undoubted issue, but in all respect to the health of an individual, it is hardly one to overlook. By supporting this bill, children would more easily receive proper nutrition in schools through school lunches, as well as learn the associated knowledge on the importance of proper nutrition to be able to continue a healthier lifestyle for the rest of their lives.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. You can reach me at (219) 573-2298. I would be more than happy to help you promote the passing of this bill in any way I can.

Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing back from you.

Samantha Hough

Share and Voice: ALLERGIES!! Uggghhh...

~Hey Guys!~

So, a couple years ago my body decided it was bored and thought it'd be a good idea to start having allergies in Spring. Sweet. Well, every year since (they started about 4 years ago), I have gotten them a little bit worse each year. You can imagine my anticipation of what this spring was going to bring. Low and behold, I thought I was dieing. So it got me to thinking...why is it that just in the past couple years I have gotten them? And why does it seem that each year I get them worse than the last? Hmmm....

I found some answers to my wonderment. Women's Health Magazine had an article on their website discussing this great issue. (you can read the full article on the site above, if youd like) Basically, what they reported was the increase in allergie symptoms of individuals is yet another issue tied into global warming, due to the growing seasons of allergens lengthening each year. This causes the release of pollen and other allergens to come full force 10 to 14 days sooner than 20 years ago. They report that the increase of CO2 in the air is causing weeds (that produce the allergens) to "reproduce like jackrabbits"...I thought that quote was awesome ha! But it totally makes sense. So, if that isnt enough, these released allergens are now kinda like SuperPowered, due to the increased CO2 that is fueling them like mad. OK, sorry for all the science talk.

ALSO... The pollutants in our atmosphere are also affecting this phenomenon. Pollen hitches a ride on the pollution that we inevitably breath in every second of everyday, carrying the little terrants right into, and DEEP into, our lungs.

So this may not be the most interesting of posts, but I found it really helpful in helping me to understand what the H-E-double-hockey-sticks was going on. It just was one more reading that opened my eyes a bit more about the importance of taking care of our planet :)

~Hope your all doing well...see you tomorrow!~

Share and Voice: Fair-Trade Coffee

~Hello all my lovely classmates :) ~

So weve all heard about "Fair-trade" products, but what does that exactly entitle?? With working in a place that has all fair-trade coffe, as well as our teas, I thought it would be important to share with you a little more about what the whole concept means, and what the benefits are. I gathered my info from this website...check it out.. Global Exchange.

Here's some basic facts about Fair-trade coffee I got from this website:

The term "fair-trade" means, cut and dry, a "equitable and fair" exchange between consumer and producer of products. The main reason behind this concept is to ensure the farmers of the coffe get a fair price for their harvests that will allow them to make a living. These farmers are typically small holders, who are usually poor actually. This is the exact reason this concept of giving them what they deserve is so important. They use the little money they make from being fair-trade for health care for their families, education, to name a few. Currently, coffee is the first product in the US ensured to be produced under fair labor conditions. I find that crazy that this is the only thing, right now, giving back to those who give us our luxuries.

On the website, there are important points as to why fair-trade is essential, and how it benefits basically every part of the exchange. Please look at it, I feel very strongly about supporting such a cause, and I think if everyone knew a bit more about what it actually meant, more would hop on the band-wagon!! (Is that the right word?? You know what I mean!)

~Hope you are all enjoying the weather :) See you soon!!~

Share and Voice: Forest Lake going Green :)

So, I saw a town on the Today Show this morning about Greenburg Kansas being a green town. That got me to thinking....what is MY town doing to be green?? I dont go home much, so I havent been able to personally witness what types of changes they are making to be more environmentally friendly. So I googled it :) Its not much, but this is what I found...kinda cool!!

City of Forest Lake website

Advocacy Project: Issue Overview

For my Advocacy Project, I decided to focus on children and the nutrition and health issues that are occuring. I forgot to include the bill I was choosing to work with last post (oops!!) so here is my bill:

S.581: A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to require the excluion of combat pay from income for purposes of determining eligibility for child nutrition programs and the special supplemental nutrtion program for women, infants and children.
Sponsor: Sen Bennet, Michael F
Committees: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
Latest Major Action: 3/12/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
My political representative: Sen. Amy Klobuchar

Whew, that was kind of a lot!

I would ask for a vote of YES to support this bill, as I feel it is imporatant for children and families alike to be supported in the area of nutrition and healthy habits beginning in the school settings for children.

Who is affected by the issue?
Those mostly affected by this issue would be the children and their families. I feel just because the kids will have positive changes in their school lunches and the ability to lead healthier lifestyles starting in the schools, and learn the importance of this subject. Children and their families will be those that gain the most from this change. Those negatively affected by this may be taxpayers or government due to the increase in cost it may propose to support this change.

Consequences of this issue...
The positive consequences of this issue would be healthier children, leading healthier lives and making better decisions nutrition wise, thus being more beneficial to them all in the long run. This would also be the case in terms of their families. They will be gaining healthier habits at school, that could directly lead to healthier habits for their families as a whole. I also feel society will benefit from this change as well, as children will learn these habits now and carry them with as they grow and become older, only leading to better society as a whole as well.

Economic Impact...
By this bill being passed, it might make some things more expensive for tax payers as well as governmental supporters, as healthier options tend to be a bit more expensive. So up front and directly this may be something people do not like about this change. But, looking to the big picture, the cost of health care will be decreased for these children later in life as they lead healthier lifestyles and are healthier individuals. Therefore, health care costs will go down as well as insurance.

Social Impact...
The social impact will be similar to that of the economic impact. I just feel this will be an overall great improvement all around, due to healthier livestyles and habits among all, so everyone will benefit on some level.

Barriers...
Barriers to this issue are that people will not support the efforts to improve on this issue. Those who will go against paying the extra cost. To overcome this is by really emphasizing the part of "exclusion of combat pay from income for purposes of determining eligibiltiy for child nutrition programs and the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children." I feel the push of this part of the bill would be useful to combat that barrier.

Resources...
Resources for this issue would be to educate children about the issue, as well as the reason behind this change so they can bring it outside of the schools. Also, hold meetings and times for parents/gaurdians to attend seminars on the benefits and knowledge behind this issue as well. Therefore, professionals as well as governmental representatives would need to come and talk to the public about this issue, addressing all areas of the bill and the topic.

History of Issue...
President Bush signed a law back in 2004 called Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, which provided more nutritious meals and snacks to children in schools and after school programs.
Another past effort is that of addressing special nutritional needs of some children, such as allergies and diabetes. These are programs for school authoraties to watch and be a part of to better understand these special issues of children. (Meeting Children's Special Food and Nutrition Needs in Child Nutrition Programs.)

Allies & Opponents...
I feel parents/gaurdians, doctors/health practitioners, governmental authorities, school teachers and authorities, and the children themselves would support this issue. I also feel, though, that parents/gaurdians and children might also oppose this issue, as the change might not be so exciting and beneficial to all. Also, schools might not be so pumped about it if they have to pay more for such programs and changes.

I want my policy-makers to vote a strong YES on this issue!!! Go Health!!

Reflection: week 11 &12

Only a few weeks left!! Crazy hey?! Wow... well here is a review of the last 2 weeks :)

Week 11~
We got to watch the documentary, "Unnatural Causes". I felt this movie was great to watch and the concept was very important to learn about. I have heard of how socioeconomic status can play a part in an individuals health status, but I didnt ever realize how significant the whole idea really is. I feel it makes a lot of sense though, putting all the pieces of it together. Its an unfortunate situation all around.

Week 12~
This week was a pretty chill week. We read the article about the good ol' ozone layer closing up...good thing. We also got to see Shar as a teacher, nice work! And we talked about "junking" a little bit, which personally I think is sweet! So Im excited for when that lady comes to share more junking techniques with us, so I myself can become an avid Junker!! Ha, not really, but I do think its cool :)

Well, heres to another week ladies and gents....Have a good one!!