AbstractsEducation Research & Administration

The purpose of this project was to design and evaluate nutrition and physical education classroom-based lessons for students in Title I schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Childhood obesity is a growing concern in the United States and in California public schools, particularly within LAUSD. The LAUSD is comprised of mostly low-income, minority populations who typically have higher rates of childhood obesity and other health-related disparities (Samuels et al., 2011). The lessons for this project were created for 1st through 5th grade students attending Hart Street Elementary and Canoga Park Elementary schools within LAUSD and focused on educating students about nutrition and being physically active indoors. The Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) indoor curriculum included lessons 1 and 2, which were components of the CATCH program to help maintain physical activity when poor weather prevented students from participating in CATCH physical education (CATCH PE) outdoors. An Expert Panel with experience in nutrition education, physical education, food service, human development, and childhood obesity issues completed a formative evaluation of the lessons within this project.