Learning healthy lifestyles.  That’s the primary focus of Body Walk, a traveling exhibit that visits elementary schools throughout Kansas.  On Wed., Sept. 19^th,  197 students at Herington Elementary School had a firsthand look at how to make healthy choices and remain healthy throughout their lives.

Body Walk is a wonderful way for students to have fun learning about health, nutrition and physical activity.   Body Walk is a 35-foot by 40-foot walk-through exhibit representing the human body.  It features an eleven-stop tour of the body from brain to mouth, stomach, small intestine, heart, lungs, bones, muscles and skin.

Alex working with his group on the mouth.

Students have the opportunity to explore the human body with Power Panther, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service mascot as their guide.  Throughout the exhibit students learned how to apply Power Panther’s slogan,  EAT SMART, PLAY HARD.  At each of Body Walk’s eleven stations, a volunteer presenter engaged the students in a five minute activity focused on good nutrition and making healthy choices.  Student presenters were provided from the Herington High School National Honor Society.  They were: Jacob Mueller, Kris Mueller, Alex Gonzolas, Ryan Floyd, Kady Albrecht, Torey Berndt, Dustin Geissert and Crysta Brockmeier.  The Herington Elementary Parent Teacher Organization also provided presenters.

Crysta "showing her muscles" for the muscle exhibit

The traveling Body Walk exhibit was developed and is operated by Child Nutrition and Wellness, Kansas State Department of Education.  The exhibit was developed to address increasing national concerns about the lack of physical activity and the declining nutritional status of young children.

We appreciated the support of our school volunteers and community organizations who assisted with the exhibit and made Body Walk possible.