Animal Trackers
Animal Trackers is a program that promotes physical activity and motor skills for children ages 3-5. It was developed by the nation’s leading specialists in obesity prevention, cardiovascular health, physical fitness, curriculum development and intervention. |
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Students at Madison Early Childhood Learning Center in Mason City learn about Lenny the Lizard and how he moves. This lesson is about lizards and how they creep and crawl. |
Students get to try the movements that the animals make, increasing their daily activity levels. |
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Children balance, jump, roll, and hop their way to motor skill development. It was designed to be action filled, fun and educational. The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health was able to purchase the curriculum thanks to a grant. |
The Growing up LEAN (Living to be Energetic, Active & Nutritious) grant program was awarded to the Health Department from the Wellmark Foundation Board of Directors.
The $49,688 grant is being implemented in three Cerro Gordo County preschools, chosen as pilot preschools, for the next two years. The goal is to increase structured, daily physical activity for preschool children in Cerro Gordo County.
Public Health Wellness Coordinator, Kelli Huinker, implements age-appropriate physical activities in this new program. Parents were asked to give permission for their child’s attendance and they receive regular updates about the program activities.
Animal Trackers is currently offered at Newman Catholic Childcare and Preschool and both Madison and Washington Early Childhood Centers. Each school will complete the curriculum for six months. Three months of the program will be under Huinker’s direction followed by three months of instruction by the preschool teacher.
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What do preschool teachers say about Animal Trackers?
“As young children become more confident and skilled at a variety of physical activities they will grow to love being physically active, which is one of the best ways to stay healthy in adulthood,” she said. “It is important to start active, healthy habits early so children value and enjoy physical fitness as a lifelong habit.”
Ann Fisher, Teacher
Madison Early Childhood Center
“I think this is an excellent program. I was really excited about Animal Trackers because there are so many children who are not physically active. I appreciate the program and especially appreciate how Kelli sends a newsletter home each week with the children so the parents are aware of which animal the children learn about and what activity is accomplished. I have always been an advocate for physical activity and I know the children really enjoy this very much. I’m glad we were included.”
Teacher Terri Chambers, Teacher
Newman Catholic Preschool
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Learn more about child health issues, including the importance of childhood vaccines. The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health Immunization Clinic offers convenient hours for all families. |
From the creators of Animal Trackers
Why Animal Trackers?
“Physical Activity throughout life is one of the very best ways to stay healthy and help prevent obesity, heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure that show up in adult life but have their roots in childhood.”
Dr. Christine Williams, MD, MPH, nutrition specialist and Director of the Children’s Cardiovascular Health Center, Columbia University, Children’s Hospital.
Animal Trackers gives children the opportunity to learn and practice the gross motor skills necessary to catch a ball, run with ease, kick and jump, balance and ride a bike or roller blade.
Curriculum and Teaching Strategies:
- 10 units devoted entirely to motor skill development, each with a different animal theme.
- Learn and practice the movement motor skills basic to physical activity and sports activities: running, hopping, skipping, galloping, rolling over, kicking, throwing, balancing and others.
- Features: over 60 classroom activities, music CD, poster set
and 10 Family Take Home Activities.
* The Healthy Start Company was founded in 2001 to provide early educational solutions that promote positive healthy behaviors to help prevent childhood obesity and other risk factors for long-term illnesses later in life.
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