A special talking brain and a singing Giraffe visited Smallwood Manor Preparatory School to help the children to learn more about their bodies and how they can keep healthy.
The Staffordshire Life Education Unit used a range of interactive models to teach pupils at Smallwood Manor, a Woodard School in Uttoxeter, about topical health issues and the dangers of drugs.
The state-of-the-art mobile classroom can cater for up to 30 children and has been designed to provide youngsters aged between three and 11 with a stimulating learning environment. It features a whole host of exciting equipment designed to capture and maintain children’s attention, including audio-visual materials and interactive models such as the talking brain and Harold, a singing giraffe puppet.
Smallwood Manor’s six classes each spent a one hour session with the Unit. The youngest children simply learnt how the body works – how we need air to breath, food for energy, water for hydration and exercise to keep fit. Meanwhile, older children started to learn more about the positive and negative effects that everything from exercise to drugs – from medicines, through to alcohol, tobacco and illegal substances – can have on the body.
The Life Education Unit aims to increase children’s sense of positive self worth; encourage positive attitudes to health; help them to recognise the risks associated with all drugs; and develop the life skills necessary to put healthy choices into practice, especially where peer pressure is concerned.
Speaking about the visit by the Life Education Unit, Mr Cann, head teacher of Smallwood Manor, said:
“You only need to take a quick look at the papers or watch the news to see that levels of obesity, binge drinking and smoking are all on the rise amongst British children and teenagers.
“Many people may think that these are inner-city problems and certainly not something that young children should be concerned about. But we firmly believe that as a school we have a responsibility to give children the information they need to make informed and positive decisions about their health, both now and as they grow up.
“The Life Educational Unit is a fantastic resource – they use lots of interactive equipment that engages with children to make learning about health issues fun,” explained Mr Cann.
Gill Venables, LEC Coordinator Staffs County Council from the Life Educational Unit, added:
“We aim to give children accurate information appropriate to their age about everything from how to keep healthy to the dangers associated with drugs so that they can make informed choices about their bodies.
“Our qualified staff use proven methods to help make learning exciting and encourage children to understand their bodies and adopt a positive attitude towards healthy living,” said Gill.
