Fourth-graders learning about healthy living
By Samantha C. DePoy
Staff Writer

JAY – Fourth-graders at the elementary school crinkled their noses when shown catheters, urine analysis cups and syringes but walked away from a presentation about health care more informed.

Bertha Flagg, a nurse for Androscoggin Home Health, hopes her 40-minute hands-on crash course in health and wellness will make students a little less nervous when they go to the doctor’s office the next time they scrape a knee or have the flu.

Fourth-graders here are partaking in a health and physical education unit that explores the basic structure and function of the human body systems and the how-tos and importance of good health habits.

The unit is in conjunction with the Maine Learning Results that later this year will test students on a variety of subjects, including the human body and health.

Each year, Flagg comes in with her bag of nursing goodies to educate students. Last Friday, she taught students about how to be good patients and take care of their bodies.

Students were taught how to make shots hurt less. “You can still make faces, but keep your arm as loose as possible,” Flagg advised students as they flexed their tiny biceps and then relaxed them. “We don’t like poking you, but it has to be done.”

Flagg also touched on the importance of not smoking, explaining to students that smoking isn’t good for their bodies and it’s not cool.

“If we put tar in our car’s gas tank, it doesn’t run. But we can replace a car,” she said. “Can you replace a body?” To which students all chimed in “No!”

Flagg said that the habits kids pick up in elementary school often follow them throughout their lives. If she and other educators can get students educated now, perhaps they’ll educate others, like their parents and peers.

“I want them to see these things,” she said gesturing toward a table covered with medical contraptions, “and not be scared of them. They’ve seen it, they’ve held it and hopefully next time, they’re not as scared. Maybe they’ll remember this talk next time they go to the hospital or doctor’s office.”

Flagg said if students walk away with one thing from her talk, she hopes it will be the importance of taking care of the body they have.

That’s exactly what 9-year-olds Chris Bubier and Morgan Maurais said they learned.

Both said they want to live long lives, “As least to 90,” said Bubier. They know making healthy choices is a way to reach that goal.

“We know more,” Bubier said, “but I still get freaked out about getting a shot.”

“It’s not gross,” Maurais said on what she has learned about her body’s many parts. “It’s a part of life.”

Teacher Donna Labbe says the unit will last six weeks. The school recently got a $500 grant from the Maine Nutrition Network to celebrate healthy choices.

Students will create and organize their own healthy snack party and create snacks and recipes for others classes to try. One of the other events scheduled is a grade four walk day in which students and guests from the community will walk a mile on the high school track and then come back to the school for smoothies.

“We want learning about health to be fun so we try to come up with activities that kids will remember after they leave the classroom,” Labbe said. “It’s just so exciting what we are doing. I learn more in the fourth grade then I ever did anywhere else.”

sdepoy@sunjournal.com

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