Introduction

Vending machines are becoming a big business in schools today. Almost all high schools and about half of elementary schools have these machines. Sales from the machines are big profits to the companies and often to the schools as well. But does their presence encourage students to eat junk food? Do students truly have a choice of healthy beverages, snacks and meals? Or are these machines causing children to become increasingly overweight?

Task 

In this webquest students will read about the trend to install more vending machines in schools. Healthy options and health-promoting policies and procedures will be identified. Students will then investigate the situation in their own school and school board to determine if the healthy options and policies are in place for their school. Students will use selected tools to prepare a short-term advocacy campaign of letter writing to key officials and groups if their investigation reveals a problem in their area.

Process

1. Start this webquest by reading these assigned articles. Use Section 3.1 of your Personal Health  Journal. All students in the group should keep notes on each of the readings. The assigned reading are:

   • Coke and Pepsi are going to school.
   • School Vending Machines Generate Funds - and Controversy
   • Vending Machines Dispense Cash to Districts
   • ABC News - It's Tough Enough to Convince Teenagers (Select ABC News from page)
   • ADA Weighs In (Select ADA from page)
   • University of Kentucky Report
   • Vending Machines in Schools: What Does Pop Really Cost?
   • R-JENERATION: Good-bye to Vending Machines?
   • Milk Vying with Soda for Pupils Attention
   • Dairy-only Vending Machines
   • Healthy Tuck Shops in Schools
   • ASFSA Supports Coke's Announcement on School Vending
      

2. As a group, answer the questions on this Assigned Questions on Vending Machines. You will need to review all of the readings to be thorough. Then prepare a Summary Report of your findings.
   
   

3. Working as a group, investigate the policy and procedures that your school or school board has on vending machines. See these examples from Calgary and an explanation from the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board.
   
   To obtain a copy of your school or school board policy, ask your school principal. If there is no written policy, as the school principal to describe how it is done in your school.
   
   Review the school and school board policies and decide, as a group, on the changes that you think should be made to these policies or practices.

1. Each student in the group will be required to hand in their notes on the assigned readings using Section 31. of the Personal Health  Journal.
    
2. The group will be evaluated on how well their Summary Report meets the evaluation criteria for such reports and how well it answers the Assigned Questions on Vending Machines
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3. The group will be evaluated on the content, accuracy and style of their Comment/Advocacy Letter.
    
4. Each student will be required to hand in their assessment of their group work using Section 3.3 of their Personal Health  Journal.