Media-Smart Youth: Eat, Think, and Be Active

Media-Smart Youth draws on information and communication technologies (ICTs) - the internet and video, specifically - as well as printed materials (a poster) to foster personal, face-to-face encounters between adolescents and educators around issues of media literacy and health. Combining youth-development principles and practices with current research findings and recommendations about nutrition and physical activity, the curriculum is designed to be flexible - easily adaptable for use with young people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds and those with special needs or interests. According to organisers, it may be used in a wide variety of community settings, such as after-school programmes and summer camps, and by many types of youth-serving agencies. Media-Smart Youth brings together a mix of learning formats, including brainstorming, small- and large-group discussions, games, and creative productions. All of these activities are intended to create discussion and encourage problem solving and critical thinking.

The curriculum was developed through the participation of youth and their parents, youth-serving organisations, and experts in nutrition, physical activity, media literacy, and youth development. The resulting programme is consistent with national learning standards, and integrates interactive activities. Available free of charge on the Media-Smart Youth website, the curriculum consists of 10 lessons and a major project (the "Big Production") that are designed to help young people acquire knowledge and skills in 4 key areas. Specifically, the packet includes:

• A Facilitator's Guide that outlines:
  • the 10-lesson after-school programme - structured lessons with activities that explore media, nutrition, and physical activity topics. Each lesson also includes a Snack Break and an Action Break, which reflect the nutrition and physical activity content of the curriculum and are meant to provide fun, hands-on ways to experience these concepts.
  • the Big Production - an opportunity for youth participants to use what they have learned to create a media project designed to motivate other young people to take action for better nutrition or increased physical activity. In the process, the youth learn new skills in production, teamwork, and creativity.
  • a variety of resources.
• Pre- and post-curriculum optional activities (entitled "Tell Us What You Think" and "Tell Us What You Think Now"), which are designed to provide programme staff and facilitators with the opportunity to learn what youth know and think about media, nutrition, and physical activity issues before and after participating in the curriculum.
• The 6 Media Questions Poster, which teaches youth to ask key questions about media messages.
• A video/DVD that includes segments to supplement the lessons and provides an overview of the programme for adult facilitators and youth participants. The segments for facilitators offer an orientation to the programme and tips on implementing it from facilitators who participated in the pilot testing; the segments for youth are designed to teach programme concepts in an engaging media format.

Youth, Health, Nutrition.

According to the 2004 report Kids & Media in America (Roberts, D., & Foehr, U.), every day, 11- to 14-year-olds spend nearly 7 hours using media, including television, computers, and video games. They come in contact with many marketing and advertising messages, especially those for candy, sugary cereals, and fast food. They spend much of their time using these media while sitting down and not being physically active. Health experts are calling for nationwide action to slow the rising rates of childhood overweight and obesity. According to a 2005 report from the Institute of Medicine, more than 15% of young people in the United States are obese, and many more are at risk for becoming overweight or obese.