About Steps to Health Color Me Healthy
Steps to Health Color Me Healthy is a 9-week curriculum extension that focuses on healthy eating and physical activity. The program uses color, hands-on learning, and music to help children engage with their senses – touch, smell, sight, sound, and taste. The weekly lessons are best for young learners (ages 4-5). The goals of Steps to Health Color Me Healthy are to:
- Improve healthy eating
- Encourage activity everyday
- Reduce screen time
This is a 9-lesson curriculum extension that coordinates with Texas TEKS for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students. Each lesson is about 20-60 minutes long. Steps to Health Color Me Healthy has 9 circle-time lessons, which may include imaginary trips, songs, and dances. Students also learn how different foods are grown. Every lesson allows children to describe and taste different fruits and vegetables.
Steps to Health Color Me Healthy materials are available in both English and Spanish.
This program can be delivered by teachers, Extension agents, or youth ambassadors. Local Extension agents can train teachers and loan out the program material kit. Extension agents will need to use the Texas AgriLife guide found on the Family & Community Healthy Agent only website to deliver the program.
Program Components
- 9 circle time lessons
- 7 original songs on a CD (also available digitally)
- Weekly parent/guardian newsletters (both English & Spanish)
- 5 colorful posters (3 classroom & 2 parent/guardian posters)
- Picture cards for circle time lessons
- Weekly fresh food tastings
- Certificate of completion after students finish the program
To host Steps to Health Color Me Healthy, schools will need:
- Space for lessons and activities
Alignment with TEKS
A full summary of the TEKS by lesson is included in the curriculum. Below, the TEKS are highlighted for each grade level.
Pre-Kindergarten: Link to Pre-Kindergarten Outcomes
Kindergarten: Link to Kindergarten TEKS
Additional Resources
Interested educators should connect with their county AgriLife Extension office for more information. Find their contact information here: https://counties.agrilife.org/
Additional information about the program can be found here: https://www.colormehealthy.com/
Evidence for Steps to Health Color Me Healthy includes:
- Color Me Healthy was found to increase fruit and vegetable consumption in child care centers.
- Child care providers reported that the Color Me Healthy curriculum increased their students knowledge of healthy eating, their students knowledge about movement, and their students physical activity.
