Benefits for education
ENERGIE offers various benefits for education:
- Because food education takes place in the form of movement games during physical education lessons, it does not require any additional teaching time.
- In addition to physical education lessons, the movement lessons can also be used for sports during breaks and for after-school physical activity programmes.
- It is accessible and fits perfectly within the theme of a healthy lifestyle for children.
- Because children enjoy the games and the games are repeated throughout the school year, a clear learning effect can be observed among the children.
Eva Geurken, owner of Skillz2Grow, calls ENERGIE “a missing puzzle piece”. She explains why: “An intervention in which active learning is combined with food education did not yet exist in this form.”
How ENERGIE came about
ENERGIE was developed by Ellen Luttikhuis, owner of Vitaal&jij, as part of the local prevention agreement of the municipality of Apeldoorn. Less than a year later, funding from the local prevention agreement in Arnhem and Sportbedrijf Arnhem was used to further refine ENERGIE in terms of content and to start an initial pilot with ENERGIE in Arnhem. A video was also made providing a clear picture of the games, the game materials and the settings in which ENERGIE can be used.
Pilot
In 2023, thanks to Sportbedrijf Arnhem, a successful pilot with ENERGIE was conducted in seven neighbourhoods. The implementation was carried out by community sports coaches.
In addition, at the end of December, physical education teachers from Delta and Flores (school communities within Arnhem) received train-the-trainer training from Skillz2Grow. The aim was to introduce this accessible form of food education to all primary schools in Arnhem. During the train-the-trainer session, several movement games were also played so that the physical education teachers could already experience some of the games. Following this training, a group of 25 physical education teachers from Delta and Flores received a trial ENERGIE package in January 2024, thanks to financial support from Sportbedrijf Arnhem. Skillz2Grow is continuing to assist these primary schools in purchasing the complete ENERGIE package, so that food education can take place during physical education lessons at an increasing number of primary schools. In the meantime, in addition to Arnhem and Apeldoorn, the municipalities of Renkum, Ede, Veenendaal and Putten are also getting started with ENERGIE.
The Crazy Jumping Game. The ‘facts' about nutrition are read aloud here by the physical education teacher after the jumping.
Healthy School activity
Skillz2Grow expects ENERGIE to be listed this year as a Recognised Healthy School activity on Loket Gezond Leven. This will make it easy for schools to purchase ENERGIE through subsidies from Mijn Gezonde School and Jong Leren Eten.
Jong Leren Eten
ENERGIE has also not gone unnoticed within Jong Leren Eten. For example, Jong Leren Eten purchased two ENERGIE packages for PABO students taking the Specialist Sportieve en Gezonde School minor. They too received train-the-trainer training and will use the games at their placement schools. This means that, for example, the King's Games or a sporting and healthy event at school can receive a real ENERGIE boost.
“We are very pleased with the support from Jong Leren Eten. This offers an excellent opportunity to help more and more primary schools implement ENERGIE and, with it, an important element of food education in primary schools,” says Eva Geurken.
Schools can already apply for the Jong Leren Eten subsidy this year to purchase the complete ENERGIE package.
Enjoyment is one of the clear principles of the ENERGIE intervention. The fun factor and the power of repetition create a learning effect among the children.
Interested in ENERGIE?
Have you become interested in ENERGIE after reading this article? Skillz2Grow would be happy to explore subsidy options with you and determine the best approach for your organisation. Send an email to [email protected] or visit www.skillztogrow.nl.
Photography: Annette Kolkman, www.fotosentekst.nl