Primary school on health kick over science project

BT Young Scientist: A number of primary school children are learning how to look after their health thanks to taking part in last week's Primary Science Fair at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in the RDS.

Fifth-class students at Scoil Réalt na Mara in Skerries, Dublin conducted a study that looked at lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise and have improved their habits accordingly.

Everyone in the class wore a pedometer and filled in questionnaires to determine activity levels and food intakes, said Ian Tolan (11). Overall they found that vegetable intake was low, boys were most active, with football, running and PE top of the exercise list, and girls were more aware of health and lifestyle issues.

Taking part in the study has helped the students understand how to keep healthy. "Before, about five kids would have fruit in their lunchbox, now everyone does," said Lorna Staines (11) who had the original idea for the project.

The school already operates a healthy lunch policy, said teacher Noreen Molloy, and the study has prompted additional good habits. Students now keep bottles of water at their desks and this year's Christmas party was junk-free, with nutritious smoothies on offer instead.

To spread the message, the schoolchildren have offered healthy packed lunch suggestions to other classes and at the exhibition they handed out snacks of fruit and raw vegetables which passing students devoured eagerly.

A sixth-class group from Mount Sackville in Chapelizod, Dublin looked at how technology affects activity levels among children. They surveyed students in all primary classes about transport to school, TV and computer game habits, exercise levels and lunch contents, said Emma Stoker-Phelan (12).

Overall, activity levels were low with many children sitting at the TV instead, said Anna Connolly (12). Her classmate Hannah Mullen (11) added that some children were doing only 60-120 minutes of exercise a week. The group, which also included Megan Costigan (12) and Grace Crawford (12), said the study made them more aware of the need to turn off the TV and be more active.

The Primary Science Fair was sponsored by the Office of the Minister for Children and involved 40 primary schools. "It's really encouraging to see that children who participated in the fair have learned so much about their health and improved their lifestyles," said Minister for Children Brian Lenihan.