Video: Toyota Grant Allows Grade Schoolers To Get Heart Healthy Hands On Lesson

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – For second graders at Lawhon Elementary, learning about healthy habits involves a quick lesson, a hands on demonstration with a pulse bar where they see how to monitor their heart rate, and a run through the obstacle course.

Tracy Williams is one of the “High Flying Kid Motivators” at HealthWorks!  She is passionate about instilling healthy habits in children.

“It takes a great diet, with a good amount of fiber, increasing fruits and vegetables and whole grains and increasing their activity everyday, sixty minutes everyday to make a good healthy heart,” Williams said.

The class is funded through a grant from Toyota . Lawhon Teacher’s Assistant Jonathan Jones raced me on the obstacle course, to show the kids that exercise is vital, especially at their age.

“It will help them become bigger and stronger , and live healthier lives,” Jones said.

It is a message these students took to heart.

“I learned that exercising will keep your body healthy,” said Second Grader Jayton Harrell.

“If your body is not working right you can just exercise or something,” said Second Grader Carmen Norwood.

Students are encouraged to put into practice what they have learned. Healthworks will come back later in the year to give the students a review and give them a second chance at that obstacle course.

All Kindergarten through second grade classes in the area will take part in the Healthworks! initiative.