Spring Break
R.E.C.E.S.S. teaches a lesson or two
Alexia Lang
Issue date: 11/2/09 Section: News
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Approximately 70 students from the UMKC Schools of Medicine and Dentistry donned shirts that said "I love R.E.C.E.S.S." and set up shop at Longfellow Elementary School last Saturday, declaring recess all day for 200 third, fourth and fifth graders.
"Project R.E.C.E.S.S. stands for Restoring Exercise, Cutting Calories, Emphasizing Hygiene, Stopping Substance Abuse," student organizer Soniya Mehra said. "The goal of the project is to promote life-long healthy habits, specifically physical activity, good nutrition, oral hygiene and avoiding substance abuse."
To teach these healthy habits, the UMKC students set up a number of areas the elementary-aged kids could visit to learn about specific topics.
In the school's cafeteria, medical students provided face painting, healthy snacks, games and a goofy skit to teach about nutrition.
The skit featured Bamana (a banana), Country Carrot, Big Red (an apple), Mr. Milk and Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater. Dancing to the music of a Miley Cyrus song, the college students sang their own words about avoiding junk food and dramatically threw out the candy bars they once loved.
Over in the gym, kids learned about being active by getting self defense tips from Millennium Martial Arts, running a relay race and jumping in a moon bounce play area.
In various classrooms, dental students taught the importance of brushing and handed out toothbrushes, while medical students conducted science experiments to show the transfer of germs when you don't wash your hands and the dangers of smoking.
Overall, the kids were all smiles and many parents said they were pleased with the event.
"We are excited," parent Imani Williams said. "This is fun."
alang@unews.com
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