Husky Reads
Husky Reads: Food & Nutrition with Children through Literacy (EDLR 1161 or NUSC 1161 | 2 Credits)
Three course sections offered fall semester, in affiliation with Husky Reads and UConn HNS community partner sites.
| Section 1 | Tuesday | 8:30am - 12:15pm |
| Section 2 | Wednesday | 8:30am - 12:05pm |
| Section 3 | Thursday | 8:30am - 12:15pm |
Sections meet one morning per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday) and engage in visits with consistent Early Childhood Education Centers (PreK students). Students work to support planning, delivery, and evaluation of educational sessions focused on literacy skill development, nutrition, and physical activity.
Contact Sarah Larocque (scb05001@uconn.edu) for more information and permission numbers.
The Husky Reads program, started in 1998, is a healthy eating intervention designed to introduce preschool age children to MyPlate concepts and foods from different food groups.
UConn students teach the Husky Reads curriculum as part of the service learning course. The lessons include MyPlate nutritional messages, food/health/physical activity-themed books, activities that reinforce the learning objectives, and food samples that encourage children to taste different foods in a positive and supportive environment.
Husky Reads Lesson Plans
- Lesson 1 - What I Like About Healthy Me!
- Lesson 2 - Filling MyPlate with Healthy Choices
- Lesson 3 - Fruit for ALL!
- Lesson 4 - Various Vegetables
- Lesson 5 - Dairy for Healthy Teeth and Bones
- Lesson 6 - Grains Help You Go!
- Lesson 7 - Power Up with Protein
- Lesson 8 - Let's Make MyPlate Healthy
- Lesson 9 - Taste a Rainbow of Color
- Lesson 10 - Taste Explorers
Other Courses
Affiliated Courses explore frameworks and concepts that guide our work and provide opportunities to get first-hand experience with UConn HNS partners and programs. Courses are clustered in the Department of Educational Leadership in the Neag School of Education, however, we welcome students across academic disciplines.
Early College Experience Course - Health & Education in Urban Communities (EDLR 1162 | 1 Credit)
UConn Courses available via partnerships with high school teachers as certified instructors.
Course curriculum works to examine historical and modern educational contexts by facilitating learning focused on nutrition, physical activity, and wellness as part of urban communities.
Contact: Dr. Danielle Derosa | danielle.derosa@uconn.edu
Health & Education in Urban Communities (EDLR 1162 | 1 Credit)
Course curriculum works to examine historical and modern educational contexts by facilitating learning focused on nutrition, physical activity, and wellness as part of urban communities.
Contact: Dr. Roc Rochon | roc.rochon@uconn.edu
Paid Internship for Course Credit with UConn HNS (EDLR 3090 / 3091 | 1-6 Credits)
Students can enroll in 1-6 credits across fall, spring, and summer semesters. Student and faculty collaboration required for student enrollment.
Individualized work plans are developed between students and instructor/supervisor to ensure consistent weekly expectations and work hours. Roles with UConn HNS are co-designed to support students’ learning goals, skill development, and practical work experience.
Contact: Dr. Justin Evanovich | justin.evanovich@uconn.edu
Introduction to Sport Based Youth Development (EDLR 3547 / 3547W / 5518 | 4 Credits)
A required course for Sport Management majors, class sections are also available for students to meet plan of study requirements such as undergraduate general education, writing intensive, and graduate student elective courses.
Class discussions, written reflection papers, and group projects are guided by critical service learning and other frameworks that inform authentic relationship building, a social change orientation, and working to redistribute power among diverse participants. Students complete 40 hours of community engagement as part of UConn HNS partner sites, predominantly in Hartford's North End community.
Contact: Dr. Justin Evanovich | justin.evanovich@uconn.edu
Ways to Get Involved
UConn HNS staff is excited to work with and support cool and talented UConn Students as part of our larger work on campus and in communities across the state. There are different pathways for entry and sustained involvement with UConn HNS; including strong participation in affiliated courses and referrals from student peers, community partners, and campus stakeholders.