Health Science Students visit First Graders to Promote Healthy Lifestyles

Swansea, SC - “How can we apply health promotion concepts and skills to support a healthy, active lifestyle?"

This was the question that Health Science Clinical Studies students from Swansea High School answered when they visited first-graders at Swansea Primary/Elementary School on September 23.

Instructor Kelly Hartley commented, “this project is important because our role as healthcare professionals is to advocate and provide health education, empowering patients to improve their health status.” She added, “When patients are involved in their own care, they are more likely to engage in interventions that will increase their chances for positive outcomes.” Student topics included dental hygiene, healthy eating and healthy lifestyles.

This Health Education Project required pairs of students to select a health-related concept or instructional objective, prepare a lesson, provide instruction, and evaluate results.

“I learned how to plan a lesson that would run smoothly with little to no errors,” said student Morgan Martin.

“The instruction included the use of presentation tools such as a student-made video, computer demonstration software, or any other form of media. I’ve learned that you have to have good communication on all level grades to connect successfully to everyone,” said student Tadrick Hallman.

Additionally, the team developed goals and objectives for the lesson along with a detailed lesson plan and an appropriate method of evaluating instruction to assess audience learning, such as exit slips, hands-on activities, surveys or a quiz.