====== Health & Hygiene ======

  * **Opening Ceremony**
    * Steam Off or Name Game
  * **Hand Washing and Germs**
    * Discussion about germs and how our immune system helps fight them off
    * [[https://www.childrensmuseum.org/blog/real-science-glitter-germs|Glitter Hand Washing Demonstration]] (If you don't have access to a sink, you can bring a handwashing station to the park. 
    * Aerosol spread and why it's important to cover our mouths when we cough or sneeze and wear a mask if we have a cold.
  * **Eating Healthy**
    * Water
      * Water should be your number one drink
      * Life can not exist without water
      * People can survive without food for weeks, but dehydration is deadly after just a couple of days.
      * Drinking water helps your joints stay healthy, is good for your teeth, helps your blood circulation, and helps maintain concentration and focus
      * Kids generally need to drink around 5 cups of water per day, and kids need around 7 cups of water per day from all sources
      * If it is very hot or you are doing a lot of physical activity you will need more water
    * Variety
      * Eating a variety of foods helps you get all the nutrients you need
      * This is especially important for fruits and veggies
    * Balanced Meals & Snacks
      * Protein
        * Important building block for growing bodies!
        * Found in dairy, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, seeds, and legumes
      * Fat
        * Helps us feel full, slow the absorption of carbs, concentrated energy, makes our brains work, allow us to absorb fat-soluble vitamins
        * Found in avocados, eggs, oils, nuts, seeds, & whole milk dairy
      * Carbohydrates
        * Give us energy
        * Found in cereals & grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy products and more!
        * 3 types: fiber, starch, & sugars
          * Fiber is non-digestible but helps your digestive system work.
          * Starch is a complex carbohydrate that is a good source of energy. They take longer to break down so provide more energy for longer than simple carbs.
            * Many foods that are high in starch are also high in fiber.
          * Sugars are simple carbohydrates that break down quickly to be used as energy.
      * Micronutrients
        * These are molecules like vitamins, calcium, and iron that we don’t need a lot of, but they are really important to have enough of! They help our bodies do a variety of things. Most people get enough of these nutrients through a balanced diet, but sometimes people take a supplement.
        * Fruits and Veggies are great to get these in your diet
    * Reduce Added Sugar
      * Reduce sugars when possible, but it’s ok to have sweets and treats on occasion!
    * Be Intentional
      * Think about what you’re eating and make healthy choices
      * Pay attention to your body and know when you are hungry and when you are full
  * **Rainbow Snack Activity**
    * Ask the kids which are their favorite foods and which foods they don't like so much. 
    * Have they ever tried something new even though it felt a little scary? 
  * **Healthy Habits**
    * All bodies are good bodies! It's important to take care of yours and treat it with kindness.
    * Get enough sleep - Otters need about 10.5 hours a day
    * Limit screen time
    * Take care of your mental health as well as your physical health
    * Eat healthy foods (like the ones you just tried!)
    * Stay hydrated
    * Stay active during the day through playing, sports, or activities
  * **Physical fitness activity**
    * Do some activities like jumping rope, running around, doing hula hoop, skipping, or stretching/yoga
    * Have the kids feel their pulse before and after doing the exercises
    * Do different kinds of exercises make you feel different?
  * **Mindfulness**
    * Do a mindfulness exercise (like the ones in the book Breathe Like a Bear)
  * **Closing Ceremony**

===== Related Activites: =====

  * [[https://www.childrensmuseum.org/blog/real-science-glitter-germs|Glitter Hand Washing Demonstration]]

===== Items Needed: =====

  * Glitter
  * Handwashing Station with Warm Water and Soap
  * Fruits and Veggies for Rainbow Snacks
  * Jump Rope and/or Hula Hoop
  * [[sections:otters:books|Breathe Like a Bear]] or other mindfulness book

===== Badge Requirements Covered: =====

=== Safety Badge ===

  * Health & Hygiene

=== Blue Activity Paw ===

  * Physical Fitness

{{tag>meeting:otter ot_safety:health_and_hygiene ot_activity:physical_fitness}}