Gold Medal Schools

Vision: A tradition of health in Utah schools.

• Eat healthy
  
• Be active
  
• Stay tobacco free

The Gold Medal School program makes it possible to provide opportunities for physical activity and healthy nutrition choices in elementary schools at a time when budget cuts and testing requirements overshadow physical activity and nutrition.

The Utah Department of Health developed the Gold Medal Schools program in 2001 using the State Office of Education's core curriculum and the Centers for Disease Control's guidelines to address overweight and obesity in elementary schools. Today, it is the most successful program for physical activity and nutrition in the state, reaching 75,741 kids in 160 schools!

Why do schools participate?

• Healthy schools make healthy learners. Studies clearly demonstrate that students who are physically active and have good nutrition achieve higher test scores.
• Gold Medal Schools emphasize changes to physical, nutrition, and tobacco policies in order to create a healthier school environment. Gold Medal Schools will not change curriculum.
• The initiative will make lasting changes without putting high demands on teachers.
• Schools receive money for nutrition resources, P.E. equipment, and tobacco prevention.
• Students at Gold Medal Schools enjoy walking, a tobacco free school environment, Safe Routes to Schools, healthier faculty and staff, and much more.

How GMS Works

Health Related Lesson Plans

Here are some great sites with complete Lesson Plans about nutrition and physical activity:

Grades 3-5

• Nutrition 1: http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=57
• Nutrition 2: http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=56
• Nutrition 3: http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=58

Grades 9-12

• Soft drink sales at school: http://www.pbs.org/now/classroom/diet.html
• Motivating youth to get more exercise: http://www.pbs.org/now/classroom/verb.html
• Exercise your heart:
• A "Heart-y" look at diet: http://www.pbs.org/healaheart/classroom/diet.html
• Changing lifestyle and heart health: http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=304

Other Lesson Plan Ideas:

• Physical activity lesson ideas
• Utah Education Network - Health Related Lesson Plans
• American Heart Association lesson ideas
• Dole's Classroom Resources
• PE Central

School Resources