TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — Troy University students spent their Friday afternoon helping fifth graders at Troy Elementary School learn about nutrition, pollution and the importance of caring for the environment. 

The lessons were part of the University’s Gardening and Nutrition Initiative; a program coordinated through Troy’s Office of Civic Engagement. The fifth grade classes were divided into two groups: one focused on healthy eating and the other on environmental awareness. 

The nutrition lesson was led by civic scholar Ella Pratt, a junior theatre major from Folly, Alabama, who serves as the team lead for the initiative. Pratt is responsible for developing and teaching the curriculum.  

“For nutrition, we introduced the food groups,” Pratt said. “Nutrients are what we are talking about today.

“We want them to have a good understanding of what they should be eating and what foods will properly fuel their bodies. We also talked about healthy eating habits and what parts of the body certain foods affect and benefit.” 

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Lauren Cochran is the coordinator of the Office of Civic Engagement. The second group of fifth graders participated in a lesson on pollution taught by students enrolled in Cochran’s Global Challenges class.   

“This was a great pairing with our gardening program because we are emphasizing outdoor education and teaching responsibility with the resources that we have available,” Cochran said. “Our students have prepared lessons on water pollution and recycling to share with the fifth-grade students. 

“It’s been a great collective experience, and I’ve been able to see my students grow throughout the process.” 

For Pratt, keeping students active and interested is a priority.  

“I like to do activities at the end of every lesson to see what they’ve learned,” Pratt said. “Typically, we play a relay game or something that gets them up and moving. 

“I like to do worksheets and discussions. Seeing the kids engaged is a super rewarding thing.” 

The gardening and nutrition initiative visits troy elementary once a month and plans to continue offering lessons that connect healthy living to everyday choices. Students interested in volunteering with the Office of Civic Engagement can call (334) 808-6349.