Seventh-grade students in Dana Hall’s Middle School recently presented “Full of Ourselves,” a modified version of their Forum class curriculum about self-esteem and healthy choices, to fourth and fifth grade girls from neighboring Tenacre Country Day School.

After leading a question and answer session to test the group’s knowledge of body shapes, diets, and why we eat, the Dana Hall students split the Tenacre students into groups to visit four stations run by the Dana girls.

At one stop, Dana students spoke about weightism — prejudice or discrimination against people based on their weight — and performed a skit. At another station, the Tenacre students were asked to write the names of women that they admire on a paper leaf. The leaves were then stapled together to create a tree of strength.

At the third activity, students put their favorite snacks into two categories: junk food and healthy/power foods. Tenacre students looked through magazines for their final activity, while Dana students asked them what they noticed about the ads and articles. Most of the observations pertained to makeup, clothes and body types. The Dana students told the younger girls that it is okay to not look like people in magazines, and that trying to look like famous people will not make them any happier than they already are.

“We love this event because it gives our girls an opportunity to show off what they have learned and to impart their wisdom onto the younger girls,” said Middle School Advisor and Forum Facilitator Guida Estrela. “The 7th graders worked very hard to be prepared, poised and well-spoken. They did a great job!”