Friday, November 26, 2010

How Living Near Green Spaces Improves Health

Via Children and Nature Network.  Photo Credit: Federico Stevanin

A 2008 study from the UK found that people who lived near parks and greenery had better mental and physical health outcomes than those in areas with little or no access to green spaces.  Those with access to green spaces had lower rates of heart disease.  Living near green spaces increases the likelihood that one will exercise and take time to unwind.  Those on low incomes tend to be in poorer health than those of higher incomes.  However, the study shows that green spaces buffer health differences between income groups.  People of lower income who lived near green spaces reported health outcomes similar to those of people with higher incomes.  Previous studies suggest that just 5 minutes of exercise in green spaces helps to improve mental health and mood.  Even more motivation to go walking in all the trails Port Coquitlam has to offer!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

How Hard Was 8th Grade Geography in 1931?

Via the Washington Post

The Washington Post just published an 8th grade final exam handed out in West Virginia in 1931.  It's interesting to see how testing has changed since the 1930s. There are no multiple choice questions, many essay questions, and the exam itself is quite difficult.  The test is very specific to the region of West Virginia as well - many questions are about textiles, farming, and coal production.  This helps to encourage the growth of the local economy.  The exam covers geography, history, English, penmanship, arithmetic, agriculture, hygeine and physiology.  View the orginal test here.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Why We Need Universal Child Care

Photo credit: Santa Ana College

There is a child care crisis in Canada.  Canadian families with young children pay up to 20% of their household incomes on childcare - in some cases more than $1200 per month.  We are facing a shortage of spaces and an increase in costs for child care.  In many European countries, universal (and often free) child care is provided by the government.  In Québec, the government pays part of cost of child care, leaving Québécois families to pay only $7 per day per child.  We need something like this to help families juggle day to day finances while keeping children safe and cared for.  Affordable child care allows parents to work outside the home and keep food on the table.  Visit the Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada to learn more and find out what you can do.  Share you child care story here.

How to Get Your Kids to Do Their Homework


 Via GOOD.  Photo credit: Leah-Anne Thomps

A new study says that to get kids to do their homework, we have to show them how homework is an investment in their future.  Students in the study who were told that higher education equals higher earnings were 8 times more likely to do their assignments than those who were not.  Showing kids that what they're doing now is linked to their future helps make homework feel practical and necessary.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Where is the Greenest School? Bali, Indonesia


Via CNN

The Green School in Bali, Indonesia is a radical international school.  Made from bamboo and cooled using the wind, the school is a model of sustainability. The school harnesses the power of the sun and the nearby river to supply electricity. In the school farm, students learn how to grow rice and vegetables.  Food from the farm is used to prepare the daily, local lunch.  Students from 17 countries, including children from Bali, attend the school.  Courses are taught using a "learning by doing" method.  The focus of the curriculum is on working together and teaching eco-friendly practices.  This may be an extreme learning environment, but perhaps we can apply some of these ideas here in BC.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

What Will the Classroom of the Future Look Like?

Via Slate Magazine

Slate Magazine recently asked readers to redesign the grade 5 classroom.  The results are impressive!  The new classroom is a large, open space with plenty of windows and access to the outdoors.  Film projectors, art spaces, and a learning garden complete the classroom.  Check out the article here.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

What does Eating Together Have to Do with Health?

Via GOOD

Laurie David is concerned about the death of family dinner.  With the rise of microwaveable and fast foods, family dinners made from fresh, local ingredients are now scarce.  It comes as no surprise that obesity is a growing epidemic in nations where cooking skills and fresh foods are not valued.  Eating together lets families share stories and histories and teaches kids how to make conversation.  Let's make a return to the family dinner.

Read an interview with Laurie David about family dinners here.

Why Obesity is a Complex Problem (and How to Solve it)


Via TED

Jamie Oliver wishes to end obesity through a number of changes to the food industry, school lunch programs, and family dinner.  At Central, some SFU volunteers are teaching classes about nutrition and the importance of fruits and vegetables.  Ms. Reese has tasting classes to get kids to try new (and healthy) foods.  Even with these programs in place, more needs to be done to make sure our kids (and adults) stay healthy into the future.  Watch the inspiring video above.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

How Can We Get Kids Excited About Food?



Chef Alice Waters of Chez Panisse in Berkley, California founded the Edible Schoolyard.  The Edible Schoolyard teaches course subjects by letting students muck around in the garden.  The garden teaches students about sustainability, gardening, and food preparation.  It is also a way of getting kids excited about food and making healthy food choices.  Alice partnered with her local middle school to create the garden.  The garden has grown to over an acre in size and produces hundred of pounds of fruits and vegetables every year.  Food prepared from the garden is given to local charity.

Monday, November 8, 2010

How to Help Communties Through Service Learning

Via TED

Emily Pilloton, founder of Project H Design, moved to rural Bertie County, North Carolina to help create a service based learning course for the local high school. Service learning provides students with the opportunity to apply course knowledge to real life though hands-on experience. Pilloton's course teaches principles of design and puts these skills to use through community projects. For one project, students created a "Learning Landscape" that combines physical activity and math. The class researches the needs of the community before building and constructs projects with users in mind. We have written about service learning before here.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Who's Washing Their Hands?

Via GOOD

It's cold and flu season, so here's a reminder to wash your hands with plain soap and water to prevent spreading viruses and bacteria to others.  Using antibacterial soap increases antibiotic resistance and pollutes waterways, so choose plain soap.

To view a hand washing demonstration, follow after the jump...

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Meet the Class!

Photos courtesy of Jenny Scott

Last Friday, the Health Sciences 349: Community Health Services class met at Central Community School.  Some students joined in the Halloween parade earlier in the day and showed up dressed in their costumes!

The Simon Fraser University (SFU) students are working with Central Community School staff, teachers, and students to help create a healthy school community.  The SFU students take a broad definition of health, helping students improve their literacy, numeracy, eating choices, physical activity, social relationships, and other health behaviors.

Click here to read a news article to learn more about SFU students and their work with Central Community School.

View more pictures after the jump...