Let’s Talk
By Jeffrey Crupi

Just like book clubs go deeper into the meaning of a book, fitness and wellness talks can help develop a deeper understanding about the importance of nutrition and physical health. Here are a few suggestions that can help you begin fitness and wellness discussions with your students.

Topic: Physical fitness
A. Divide your class into four groups. Using chart paper, ask each group to brainstorm different types of exercise. Hang these charts on the wall. Next, have each group rotate around the room reading the charts. Ask the students to place a green dot next to all the activities that improve flexibility, a red dot next to activities that improve muscular strength and endurance and a yellow dot next to activities that improve cardiovascular fitness. Ask your students to discuss their findings. What activities had three dots next to them? Two dots?, etc.

B. Have students develop their own physical fitness regime. Ask that they keep a journal to record their exercises as well as their thoughts and feelings. After a few weeks, encourage your students to share their experiences and findings with their classmates.

Topic: Nutrition
A. Ask your students to work with a partner and cut pictures from magazines to create a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner. Remind them to include the four food groups and to follow the USDA nutritional pyramid guidelines. The partners should share their work with classmates and explain why they consider each meal to be healthy and nutritious.

B. If you teach grades 4-8, invite your students to discuss how our access to food and the types of food we eat has changed over the years. For example, fast food for convenience, organic foods, etc.

Topic: Substance abuse
A. This is a good topic to discuss with kids in grades 5-8. The media can influence our thoughts, perceptions and buying habits. Ask your students to work in groups and create a compare and contrast chart. They can flip through magazines and cut out pictures that depict positive, healthy behaviors as well as behaviors that may have a negative influence on us. Students then share their charts and discuss their findings as a group. They should also explain what they discovered as a result of this exercise.

Fitness and wellness talks are an excellent compliment to the physical activities that we teach kids. By setting aside some time each week for these discussions, you'll be helping your students to develop a deeper understanding of what it means to make healthy choices.

Jeffrey Crupi is the owner of Peak Fitness, LLC in Westport, CT. He is a certified fitness specialist with a degree from Marymount Manhattan College.

February, 2007, Vol.37, No.5