The key to maintaining a healthy weight is pretty simple—burn at least as many calories as you eat. National PTA has partnered with Together Counts to incorporate this simple rule into a program for pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Energy Balance 101 is a collection of interactive lesson plans designed for teachers to use in the classroom coupled with after-school activities that PTAs can do each week to reinforce and expand on the lessons learned in class. There are additional handouts for students to take home to encourage the rest of their family to practice healthy eating and activities.
Grant Funding Available
To further support the program, National PTA is awarding 25 local PTAs covering grades K through five $2,000 Healthy Lifestyles Grants to implement the Energy Balance 101 program at their school. PTAs earning the grants will:
- Use the Energy Balance Enrichment Zone curricula to educate families on the importance of energy balance, good nutrition and physical activity in achieving an active, healthy lifestyle
- Empower families to partner with schools to advocate for and support the implementation of healthy changes around nutrition and physical activity
- Provide families with tools to create an environment at home that supports the positive changes at school
The grand funding must be spent between October 1, 2015 and April 30, 2016. Title I schools are strongly encouraged to apply for the grants. Apply online before the deadline on Friday, June 19, 2015 at 5:00pm EDT (4:00pm here in Illinois).
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