Health & Storytelling

For the first time this semester I really had to give this topic a bit of thought. I was or maybe still am not really sure how to answer this but I feel I have a good grasp on it. So, when I hear storytelling and health my first thoughts go to my younger students. Since I want to teach elementary I'm thinking of my K-2 students. I figure those first three years would be most difficult to try and explain to them how it is not right to stuff your face with junk food such as McDonald's everyday. And so one of the only ways to teach them would most likely be is to tell a story. In this day and age I am sure Barnes and Nobles has a bunch of kids story books about how dangerous and unhealthy it is to be obese. So I am not to concerned. I think I would try and do some factual lesson plans first(meaning showing them a easy way to understand obesity using newspapers, magazines, but all pictures). But unfortunately if that does not work, I guess I would use the books. I could see myself now reading them a book about the little boy who cried, "FOOD," one too many times. I cannot wait. But luckily if they laugh I sure will be too. Hopefully no one in my class will become upset with their similarities of the book but hey its gonna happen, that's why were there, to help. As for my 3-6 students, I am not as worried about the storytelling but still worried about feelings being hurt. Like I said, I really never thought of involving storytelling as a feature in my unit plans but now that I do think of it I am sure I will be. I see now using stories in a few lessons will help my youngsters understand what I am teaching. I also bet it will make a long lasting laugh reading a few pages to friends and relatives during Christmas break but once again, its for the kids. In all I do see storytelling in my feature of teaching.