The purpose of the Health Specialist Award is to get Busy Bees thinking and learning about the importance of healthy eating, exercise and sleep. Most kids are learning about these topics at home and school, and we are here to reinforce what their parents are already teaching them. Health Specialist is a required award for Busy Bees Investiture Achievement.
Story: Rechargeables
I love reading The Rechargeables: Eat Move Sleep by Tom Rath to introduce the topic of health. This obviously fictional book (the characters have a battery graphic on their chests!) is a fun non-preachy way to explain how healthy eating and exercise is important. When I read a fun story to the kids, we are learning together. No one is being judged or lectured. We are enjoying a story together. And while we’re reading, we are also learning some rather important basics of good health. The characters learn the difference in how fruits and vegetables give us more lasting energy than a bag of cookies. They also learn the importance of sleep and exercise.
Game: Health Specialist True or False
Requirements # 3, 4b-8
I am thrilled with how well this game went with my active class. I put up my thumbs up and thumbs down emojis on opposite sides of the foyer (the best place in my church to run about a bit). They started each question in the middle of the room and ran (or cartwheeled) to the appropriate emoji for each question. My True/False game has fifteen questions, and the kids would have liked more questions!
Craft: Healthy Diet Meal Plan
Requirement # 2
I use MyPlate resources to teach about a healthy diet. I like its focus on fruits and vegetables and its simplicity. I start by showing this poster of the five food groups, and we discuss each group. (Note: This does include a separate dairy section which will be annoying to your vegans and anyone who is dairy-free. The picture does include soy milk, so it’s attempting some level of inclusivity at least.. I encouraged my dairy-free busy bee to just ignore the cup.)
After we discuss the food groups, I give the kids their own “plate” to create a menu on. I have one page with a blank plate and one plate page with all the food groups labeled – they can choose whichever one they like. I’ve noticed that many kids prefer the labeled one. I talk through the menu with any child, who is struggling, encouraging them and pointing out how close they are to having all the food groups as they think it through. Once they have their menu planned, they draw it out on their plate. We finish by going around the table and sharing each of the menus.
Bible Verse: I Corinthians 6:19, 20
Requirement # 1
Pull out your Bibles! I Corinthians 6:19-20 just needs to be read and discussed – it doesn’t need to be memorized. We looked up to verse together and then talked about it after I read it to them.
Sleep: Record Hours of Sleep
Requirement # 4a
I have included a one week sleep tracker page in the printable pack. You could either send it home during the meeting before you teach Health Specialist or send it home after this meeting. Confession: Health Specialist was our last meeting this year, and I had to toss out this requirement. I’ve sent the sleep tracker home in past years, and I will in the future, but sometimes you have to modify an award to fit your needs.
Exercise Program
Requirement # 9
Requirement #9 is to participate in an exercise program. This is going to be challenging for most of us to accomplish during our meeting as an exercise program implies on-going and not just ten minutes once in the year! Fortunately, most elementary kids are in PE classes through their school.
Downloads
For my club, this award fit neatly into a single meeting. I am grateful for a fast moving award to finish off the year.
To celebrate healthy living, please tell me your favorite fruit or vegetable in the comments!