Healthy Living Can Affect Youth In School

Abstract

This study is a convergent mixed method study which looked at the effect of healthy living habits among students in the fifth grade and their academic performance. The study examined whether six weeks of healthy living instruction for 45 minutes impacted academic grades in science and changed students' behaviors. Data was collected from a control and experimental group in Southern Minnesota. The students in each group were observed prior to the healthy living instruction for two hours and after the six week instruction with a post observation that looked at the behavior of the students. Suggestions for future research include expanding the study to rural, suburban and inner city schools.