CATCH Healthy Smiles is a program for grades Pre-K – 2 that is designed to improve the oral health of students by teaching about and encouraging proper toothbrushing and flossing techniques, a nutritious diet, and regular visits to a dentist.

Through the program, students learn about the major factors that cause tooth decay and develop the skills needed to maintain a healthy smile. The CATCH Healthy Smiles program is designed to help students:

* Discover the causes of tooth decay, including dietary choices and poor oral health habits in our oral health education programs;
* Develop skills for brushing, flossing, and choosing tooth-healthy foods & drinks;
* Recognize the importance of regular dental visits; and,
* Create personal oral health care goals.

CATCH Healthy Smiles was developed by researchers at the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health, with funding support from the National Institutes of Health.

Co-authored with Kaitlin Read and Udaya DatlaCan you remember a time you've been sick? Why aren't you still sick? How did you get better?Join Udaya Sree Datla, a doctoral student in translational biology, medicine, and health at Virginia Tech, as she presents Infections, Germs, and Immune Cells. The accompanying lessons and resources provide students with an introduction to germs, the immune system, and the career path of an immunologist, all while emphasizing the importance of handwashing and incorporating a computer science twist. The second lesson capitalizes on an opportunity to integrate computer science by introducing students to the career path of computer programming and constructing a set of step-by-step instructions (algorithms) either independently or collaboratively to sequence the steps of handwashing. These resources are part of the Advancing Computer Science Education Grant to support the implementation of Virginia's Computer Science Standards of Learning in partnership with Floyd County Public Schools with additional support from Virginia Tech's Center for Communicating Science and the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology.