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LACOE Student Wellness Online Modules

Welcome to the LACOE Student Wellness Online Modules!

The Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) is pleased to provide teachers with the following online modules that address components of student wellness, nutrition, and physical activity. The modules were developed during the 2017-18 school year using funding, from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed), administered by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH). The project was called Champions for Change - Healthy Communities Initiative with the goal of reducing the prevalence of overweight and obesity among low-income students and families in Los Angeles County through a coordinated community approach to increase access to nutrition education, physical activity, and healthy foods and beverages.

Studies show that proper nutrition and daily physical activity have a profound impact on physical, psychosocial, and cognitive development. Healthy, well-nourished students are better able to reach their full academic and physical potential, are absent less often, and have higher test scores. Through skills-based education, students can become empowered to choose healthy lifestyle behaviors to help them excel in all their endeavors.

LACOE developed the following online modules: Healthy Classrooms, Nutrition Integration, Rethink Your Drink, and Physical Activity, and Common Core Standards. These free learning opportunities highlight best practices for classroom teachers and are still applicable today as, 1) at a minimum, nutrition and physical activity must be addressed as part of the USDA mandated Local School Wellness Policy, and 2) it is more important to ensure all students are equipped with health literacy skills to improve health outcomes.

The online modules are designed to help increase knowledge and skills to expand nutrition education, physical activity, including physical education, and wellness promotion in the classroom, and to provide strategies to create a healthier school environment. The information and resources, along with suggested student-driven learning activities, can enhance the practical application of the California Common Core State Standards. These interactive modules allow classroom teachers to easily access free nutrition and physical activity information and supplemental resources to enhance understanding of best practices and evidenced-based strategies.

Even though the modules were developed during the 2017-18 school year, the dated references are still pertinent. For example, the California Department of Education continues to promote nutrition and physical activity even though TEAM California for Healthy Kids, which was initiated by former California Superintendent of Public Instruction Torlakson, is no longer operational. Other references, such as the Nutrition Facts Label, have changed but the discussed concepts can still be applied to the revised label. More importantly, the concepts highlighted in the modules support the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model. Since schools have a responsibility to provide a healthy school environment, these online modules continue to provide a learning opportunity for teachers.

Please select the image below to view “Best Practices from the Classroom” featuring various LACOE Nutrition Project teachers throughout Los Angeles County:

Healthy Classroom

Healthy Classrooms

Elizabeth Cline, 4th grade
Hellen Keller Elementary
Lynwood USD

Cooking in the Classroom

Cooking in the Classroom

Jazmin Calvo, 3-5th grade (GATE class)
Cesar Chavez Elementary
Montebello USD

Physical Activity Integration

Physical Activity Integration

Sergio Gomez, 5th grade
Miramonte School
Mountain View School District

Rethink Your Drink

Rethink Your Drink

Peter Lam, 8th grade
Gidley School
El Monte School District

For more information, please contact:

LACOE Division of Curriculum and Instructional Services
Maryam Shayegh, Nutrition and Wellness Coordinator
Shayegh_Maryam@lacoe.edu
(562) 922-6306