Integrating nutrition into the mathematics curriculum in Australian primary schools: protocol for a randomised controlle
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Integrating nutrition into the mathematics curriculum in Australian primary schools: protocol for a randomised controlled trial Berit M. Follong1,2,3, Elena Prieto-Rodriguez4, Andrew Miller4, Clare E. Collins1,2 and Tamara Bucher2,3,5*
Abstract Background: Nutrition education programs in schools have been effective in improving children’s knowledge and behaviours related to food and nutrition. However, teachers find it challenging to implement such programs due to overcrowded curricula. Integrating nutrition with core subjects such as mathematics could potentially address time constraints and improve the learning of both. The primary aim of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to evaluate the impact of a cross-curricular nutrition and mathematics program on primary school students’ portion size estimation skills. Secondary aims include impact on their nutrition knowledge, attitudes towards mathematics and evaluating the quality of the lessons. Methods: Twelve Year 3–4 classes from Catholic schools in New South Wales, Australia will be randomised to intervention (n = 6) or control (n = 6) groups. Teachers in the intervention group will receive a professional development workshop and resources to teach 4–5 lessons on portion size and measurements across 1–4 weeks. Outcome measures include portion size estimation skills, nutrition knowledge and attitudes towards mathematics, with data collected during three school visits (pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, 4 weeks postintervention). Additionally, teaching quality will be assessed in both intervention and control groups and process evaluation undertaken using teacher interviews and student focus groups. Discussion: This RCT uses an innovative approach to improve both nutrition and mathematics related learning outcomes among primary school children. It has the potential to impact teaching practices regarding integration of nutrition into curricula and enhance the implementation of nutrition education interventions. Trial registration: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register ACTRN12619001071112 31/07/2019. Keywords: Overweight, Obesity, Prevention, Food skills, Numeracy, Education, Cross-curricular, Healthy eating, Volume estimation, Quality teaching
* Correspondence: [email protected] 2 Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia 3 Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia Full list of author information is available at the end of the article © The Author(s). 2020 Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this
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