Primary school programmes

Keen to promote healthy eating and physical activity habits in your kura? The Heart Foundation offers free, curriculum-aligned programmes, initiatives and resources to help schools achieve their goals.

A smiling young student points at a display of cards on a classroom wall, with another student in the background doing the same. The wall is covered in colorful educational materials, creating a lively and engaging learning environment.

Our primary school nutrition and physical activity programmes are designed to seamlessly fit into your current learning environment. 

Our tools and resources will help you begin your journey towards creating a healthier environment in your kura. You can even use them to involve parents, whānau, and the wider community. 

Food for Thought

An image of the Food for Thought programme logo.

Food for Thought is a fun, free programme that takes learning beyond the classroom. 

It uses an inquiry-based learning approach to help Year 5–6 students learn how to make healthy food choices. 

The programme includes in-class sessions and an exciting visit to your local PAK'nSAVE, New World, or Four Square. 

It also connects with a wide range of learning areas within the New Zealand Curriculum, making it easy to integrate into your teaching. 

Food for Thought

Project Energize

A group of young children excitedly reach up as a teacher hands out balls from a net in a colorful indoor playroom filled with soft play equipment and hoops.

Project Energize partners with primary schools to promote children's physical activity, nutrition, and overall wellbeing. 

Our staff (Energizers) provide practical support to teachers and schools, helping them implement initiatives that improve the quality and quantity of physical activity, and encourage healthier eating habits. 

The programme is delivered in Wellington city, Porirua, and Kāpiti and is funded by the Ministry of Health. Originally developed by Sport Waikato and the Waikato District Health Board, Project Energize has been adapted to meet the needs of the communities it serves. 

Contact us for more information.