BREAKFAST BOOGIE

Creative movement activity

Objective: Students will use empty cereal boxes for creative movement activities while becoming familiar with nutrition label information.

Cognitive Link: The brain is attracted to novelty. Creativity is a critical thinking skill. Grains produce glucose, which is fuel for the brain and aids in serotonin uptake. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates behavior. Glucose is to brain what gasoline is to your car. Every time you think, you burn glucose, so you need a large supply of glucose at all times.

Academic Concepts: Nutrition.

Equipment: Ahead of time, collect empty cereal boxes to have at least one for every student, more if possible. Also have some music.

Organization: Students are in personal space scattered around the play area. Each student begins by holding a cereal box.

Anticipatory Set: Teacher's Quote: "Raise your hand if you eat cereal for breakfast. What is your favorite cereal? Look at the nutrition label. How many calories are in each serving? Sugar? Fat? Let's burn calories up some of that sugar and fat while we get the glucose to our brains faster. Glucose comes from cereal and other grains. Glucose is to brains what gasoline is to your car. Every time you think, you burn glucose, so you need a large supply of glucose at all times"

Activity: Turn on the music. Do the "Breakfast Boogie" with the cereal boxes by dancing with the boxes using exercises already learned and some creative ones as well. Divide the students into groups of 5-6 people. Students stack the boxes trying to build the largest building possible. Combine groups to see who can build the best structure.

Closure:
Teacher's Quote: "Glucose is an important brain food that comes from eating cereal. Breakfast is an important meal of the day to give your brain a "full tank" for better thinking, and learning."