WATCH Program Implementation for the 3Ps

When engaging with community partners, specifically the ECEs, staff refer to the WATCH Conceptual Model. This model guides the overall implementation and serves as a base to introduce specified changes within the classroom and the menu modifications. In the classroom and healthcare centers, OrganWise Guys curriculum is given to provide resources related to nutrition and physical activity.

Crosswalk - Why we do OrganWise Guys

The Educational Competencies Crosswalk (Appendix K: Educational Competencies Crosswalk was developed to show teachers how the OrganWise Curriculum will fit into their existing lesson plans. The OrganWise Guys curriculum was selected to be a component of WATCH because of its best practice in preventing childhood obesity. The eight lessons and videos that each classroom receives aligns with the Oklahoma Core Competencies, Quality Rating, and Improvement System (QRIS) Reaching for the Stars criteria, Child Development Associate (CDA) content, and Early Learning Guidelines. These areas highlight the importance for early childhood development and each lesson promotes the enhancement of healthy nutrition and physical activity within each learning center. (Figure 9 - OWG Intro for meetings)

Each ECE center will receive an OrganWise Guys curriculum kit. Each kit has two components, the Red kit and the Blue kit. Collectively, they make up the 8 OrganWise Guys lessons. Each classroom is expected to focus on one lesson for the duration of 2 weeks to allow ample time for content. WATCH staff work with teachers at the ECEs to implement these lessons over their 16-week semester.

Figure 9 - OWG Intro for meetings

These lessons also have an accompanying video, book, and Wisercise activity completed within the classroom. Teachers also have the Foods of the Month newsletter and activity sheets that are sent home. Supporting materials include the activity books, activity sheets, stickers, a physical activity calendar, posters, and a Wisercise book. One of the more well received materials included in the kit is the OrganWise Guys doll, that has caricatures to represent organs of a healthy body. The kit also includes foods of the month materials which have a newsletter, temporary tattoos, buttons, and stickers. (

Figure 10 - OWG Lesson Plan)

Figure 10 - OWG Lesson Plan

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Another part of implementation of the curriculum includes a Weekly Process Evaluation for teachers and teacher assistants. These are brief weekly surveys scheduled across the 16-week semester. These surveys allow the teachers to provide feedback in real time and give WATCH staff the opportunity to provide technical assistance. This also serves as a link to open communication between WATCH staff and ECEs. This communication is vital to making on the spot corrections to tailor the program to meet the specific needs of the communities.

Menu Modifications

Best practice for menu modifications is initiated with the results from the community capacity survey for food prep personnel to gauge readiness. From these results, staff can use the survey to prepare for the interview to learn more about feasible implementation of menu modifications. During the interview, a review of the current menu will look at what foods have been successful, favored recipes, and identify what menu items to keep or modify. This is followed by menu analysis conducted by the WATCH programmatic assistant following the CACFP guidelines to create a new menu. The new menu is sent for review to the food prep personnel for review and approval. A menu feedback form I.3 Menu Feedback Form is initially used after the first month of menu modifications to assess utilization and feasibility. After the first assessment is completed if further edits or changes are needed, it can be discussed through the established monthly check-ins. The menus are created for a three-month cycle that incorporates a “Try it Tuesday” Food of the month and Traditional Thursday food item or meal. The purpose of “Try it Tuesday” is to incorporate the food of the month for children to taste and learn about the specific food item.

Traditional Thursday is a concept about bringing opportunity for children to try traditional foods during mealtimes at each center. Including this to the menu encompasses adding traditional foods specific to the tribal community and area of which the learning center is located. Staff will be working with parents and families to engage communities to be involved and gather input about what traditional foods are to them and how they would like WATCH staff to incorporate them at the learning centers. While some ECEs may be in a specific tribal jurisdiction, we aim to be inclusive of all tribes within the area. This effort is focusing on wellness and traditional health, which embodies what WATCH is.

WATCH Family Nights

The WATCH family nights are interactive nights planned throughout the semester which are coordinated with already established ECE parent teacher nights. Each night is designed to promote the NIH’s Eat, Play, Grow curriculum. Components from the OrganWise Guys curriculum are utilized when planning each event. One night is dedicated to a specific theme

which can be physical activity, nutrition, or a food demonstration. The duration of each night depends on the established agenda and can vary due to planned activities and housekeeping.

For the food demonstration an indigenous chef is invited to prepare a meal for families to sample a healthy recipe. These nights are meant to be interactive and introduce families to both aforementioned curricula. It gives staff time to show parents what the kids are learning at school. This will give families a better representation of what children learn at school and continue learning within the home.

In the beginning of the night, families are provided a toolkit, which can be found on our website. The toolkit given to the families includes two different laminated calendars that allows the parents to engage daily with the child. The Physical Activity Calendar (Figure 11 - Activity Calendar) provides easy and fun exercises with a goal of being active for a total of 15 minutes a day as a family. The Nutrition Calendar (Figure 12 - Nutrition Calendar) offers ways to add in healthy choices based on the child's age. The toolkit contains guides for being safe outdoors, activities for small spaces, information on how to be cost-effective with a slow cooker, and a gas station and dollar store guide for selection of healthy foods. Other materials included are a physical activity book for families to read to their children and healthy recipe notecards. At the end of each night, there is an incentive raffle for participation which includes the opportunity to win a crock pot and gift cards. These activities provide a unique interaction to involve WATCH community partners and encourage healthcare providers to attend the family nights as allowed.

Figure 11 - Activity Calendar