This document describes the Healthivores program, which engages kids in learning about personal health through video game design. A pilot program saw students in Pflugerville ISD mentoring younger students to design games about health topics. Feedback was positive, with students reporting increased awareness of health issues. The program has since expanded into a national contest involving over 350 student-designed games. Organizers aim to further enhance the program toolkit and research its impacts on students' health knowledge and behaviors.

1. Healthivores
Kids Getting Smart About Health
and
Green Ribbon Schools
Steve Amos
steve@4cw3.org
www.greenribbonshools.org/gamecontest

2. An innovative program and
contest that ENGAGES KIDS in
learning about personal HEALTH
through VIDEO GAME DESIGN

3. The Problems
• Childhood Obesity & Related Disease
• Student Engagement
• Relevancy to Kids
• Peer Pressures
• Media Bombardment
FOR TEACHERS: Lack Resources easily
implemented in the classroom

4. Background
• Convergence: Pflugerville ISD, AMD
Foundation, Green Ribbon Schools
• Pilot: Fall 2011, HS kids mentored MS & Elem
• Observed: Grade level step up in cognitive
thinking
• Created: Tool kit and national contest

5. Jorge’s game – high school student

6. Josue Monreal, the teacher Copperfield Elem. teacher:
“Within the pilot students are really enjoying being
able to design the games.
Not only am I seeing the light come on in their
heads about healthy foods and exercising
but they are starting to learn the vocabulary and
skills around game making, which will motivate
them to investigate further the mechanics behind
game design and creation. “

7. Mariah, a Copperfield Elementary School student:
“After talking about eating healthy and working on my
game, I started browsing around Taco Cabana's website.
Most of the other students were looking at the usuals
like McDonald’s, Whataburger, etc…
but I started with Taco Cabana because, my mom's
friend is real fat and I see here eating Taco Cabana all
the time. Plus I heard Mexican food tastes so good
because it's bad for you.
I found a dish from Taco Cabana that has a total of 96
grams of fat. I was like, "holy cow, if you eat this, you
can't eat for a day and a half". I decided I would never
eat there again because I don’t want to be "fat".”

8. Kathryn, Coordinator Instructional Technology:
“… enabled the teachers to be competent facilitators
…, while allowing them to engage personally with
each student as they created a game that focused on
Healthy lifestyles.
Students were excited to build the game they
envisioned in their mind's eye & show off what they
learned for other students to see and learn from.
Watching students produce a product that used
technology, but represented their idea for helping
someone else become healthy or choose a healthier
lifestyle was amazing.”

9. Taking Learning from Pilot to a National Program

10. Teachers and Students Need
Zero Game Design and Zero Game Play
Experience
If you can turn on a computer…you can
complete our Lesson Plan with your
students.
Let’s just say we have made it really EASY!

11. Healthivores Contest and Tool Kit

12. http://www.greenribbonschools.org/gamecontest/lessonplan

13. Healthivores and Green Ribbon Schools Partners

14. http://www.greenribbonschools.org/gamecontest/2012winners
Winners

15. Top Line Impacts on Health and Technology
Pilot students reported an increased awareness and belief that game
design impacted how they view healthy habits
 46% saying it impacted how they view exercise and fitness as
necessary for being healthy
 50% saying it has made them think about and/or adjust their food
choices/habits
 68% saying they are more aware and concerned about obesity
Game Contest Participation
 Goal 12 to 15 schools
 Actual 46 schools – from 8 US states, even Guam
 About 375 games created
Contest students reported
 68% reported an increase in technology interest

16. Observations
Amazing Creativity: Veggie Cowboy, Health Knights
Great Thinking: Surveying other students, Videos on Flu,
Having their class play their games
Interesting Applications: Stress
Kids as Digital Story Tellers
Engaged Kids and Supportive Teachers
Unexpected Competitive Spirit
Size of the Issue - Immense

17. What’s Next
• 2nd Annual Healthivores Video Game Contest
• Community voting, Badges, Student Options
• Enhanced Toolkit:
– Include “get up and move”
• Game Instructions & Embedded w/in games
– Alignment to Standards & Subjects
– Extend & “step up” technology options
• On-going research, Feedback loops

18. Input from educators:
“Kids don’t think about their health”
“Not cool … not discussed …”
Per District Teacher of the Year and a Culinary Arts Teacher
Our plan:
Extend Healthivores Within Fabric of the School
Establish a Culture of Wellness
Where it is Cool to Think and Act
‘Cause YOU are Worth It

19. What’s Next – You 
• Share program w/others
• Serve as judge
• Participate on advisory team
• Research, improve impacts/effectiveness
• Healthivores development
• Team in Support of:
Healthier, Happier, Smarter & Funner Kids

20. Steve Amos
Green Ribbon Schools
steve@4cw3.org
www.greenribbonshools.org/gamecontest
facebook.com/greenribbonschools @grsteam