Wednesday, April 12, 2000

Lights, action - education

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Hands-on event makes an impression

BY Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer Contributor

        MIDDLETOWN — Aaron Wright took out a 3-foot-long cigarette, pulled a long, thin piece of cloth from its filter, threw it at the back row of second-graders at Roosevelt Elementary School and asked them to read it.

Jessica Blackford, 8, jumps up and down while health educator Aaron Wright watches a heart monitor. (Dick Swaim photo) | ZOOM |

        "N-I-C-O-T-I-N-E,” they spelled, struggling with its pronunciation.

        “Did you know that's a natural bug spray?” Mr. Wright asked, as the children began giggling. “It's one of 4,000 things that are in a cigarette and go into you if you smoke. It's also what makes it hard to stop smoking.”

        His message on smoking was part of a 40-minute interactive health lesson inside a 38-foot mobile classroom van parked at Roosevelt on Tuesday as part of the Cincinnati-based, nonprofit Discover Health program for children in grades 2 to 4.

        Mr. Wright touched on three areas of the human body: heart, brain and lungs.

        In the van's ceiling was a network of cables with lights flashing red or blue to simulate arteries and veins moving blood through the heart. Brain cells were likened to the shape of children raising their hands to answer his questions.

        “It was really cool,” said Jessica Blackford, whose heartbeat after jumping and running in place was projected onto a screen in the van. “I thought my heart was beating fast but it was beating really, really fast!”

        Principal Sandy Locher said she wanted to bring the van to Roosevelt because the presentation not only entertained the children, but tied into Ohio's proficiency tests.

        “I think it's important to have as many hands-on experiences as possible so (the material) will stick,” Ms. Locher said.

        Timothy Caldwell, 9, liked the van because it was equipped much differently than rooms in his 70-year-old school.

        "You get to see cool stuff,” Timothy said. “I didn't know cigarettes had that stuff and it surprised me because my mom smokes. I don't want to smoke because it's bad for you.”

        When the van leaves the school today after a three-day visit, all of Roosevelt's second-, third- and fourth-grade students will have spent 40 minutes inside and 40 minutes in the classroom with a second instructor from the Discover Health program. The van has visited 65 schools and more than 8,500 children since mid-September.

       

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