Reflection: Ancillary Measures and Parent-school Cooperation
- Learning amid activities:
As the chess game showed the recommended times for meals, the children might think about whether they observed these meal times at home. The picture story showed the adverse effects of an irregular diet to health.
- Improve the competition system:
To speed up the game, teachers agreed to abandon the use of dice. Pupils took turns to participate so as to save time queuing up to throw the dice. A ‘Snack Wall’ could be built along the two sides of the mattresses; children would then wear elbow guards with Velcro fasteners, and try to avoid contact with the unhealthy snacks on the wall while crawling through the tunnel.
- Cooperation:
Children actively assisted each other in the game, thus being trained to cooperate with each other.
- Creativity:
Children’s creativity was engaged as they had to make up a gesture for themselves when they shouted the slogan by the end of the activity.
- Healthy birthday party:
Apart from providing the imaginative chess game, the school also introduced healthy diet topics in the usual classroom activities. For example, cream cakes and party snacks were replaced by sponge cakes and fresh fruits at birthday parties. Teachers also made healthy food together with the pupils.
- Parent-child interaction:
The school invited parents to physical activity events like game workshops and sports galas. These events improved family ties as well as children’s health.
- Active family participation:
The school organised parent-child activities, including nutrition talks, visits to farms and vegetable markets, healthy snack making, etc. The activities improved parents’ understanding of nutrition and helped them pave way for their children’s healthy eating habit.
Stage 3: Sharing Platform
Ms. Chan Shuk Wai , Headmistress
- Although there was a ‘Healthy Campus’ curriculum in place within our school, the addition of StartSmart@school.hk Pilot Project sophisticated our teaching in this aspect. We used to think it would be adequate so long as we paid attention to nutrition; the project made us realise that physical activity is equally important and that the two are in fact complementary in nature.
- As a paticipating school of the pilot project, we benefited a lot. If the project is to be launched territory-wide, we will be a devote supporter for this initiative.
Ms. Lee Lin Fan , Teacher
- Kids found it hard to manage the concept of time. Therefore, we first carried out the chess game in class K3; the result was good. Pupils were enthusiastic in the activity and they learnt more about regular diet.
- We discovered that some parents were not concerned about children’s breakfast. Some children even skipped breakfast when they woke up late or when they were in a hurry for school. We hope to instil the message of punctual eating into our pupils. We hope the parents will get the messages and information, whether they are available in pamphlets or other formats.
Ms. Chu Siu Mei , Teacher
- Story-telling was effective in getting the message of punctual eating across to children. Now they watch the time at home and tell their parents when they should eat. As a result, the dietary habit of the entire family has improved gradually and meals are served on time.
Conclusion
After the StartSmart@school.hk Pilot Project, the entire school, including the headmistress, the teachers and the food preparation staff, found themselves benefited. They have known more about food and nutrition; they have learnt more about how to organise physical activities for children. Such information is useful in future teaching. As for children, the pilot project reinforced their understanding of a healthy life, which laid a good foundation for their future learning.
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