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| Brain food for breakfast! |
As part of a PYP unit on healthy habits, students in 2C engaged in a fun and practical experiment to learn directly about the importance of having a healthy, balanced breakfast. The class ate breakfast together on two different mornings. On the first morning, students ate a simple but delicious breakfast comprised of healthy, wholesome foods. On the next day, the students shared a sugar-packed breakfast of pastries and other heavy items. Over the course of both mornings, students monitored and discussed how their bodies were reacting to the type of breakfast they'd eaten. They reflected on the quality of their concentration levels, and the amount of energy they had for the rest of the day.
"This experiment has been very successful in showing the children immediately how important it is to make good choices when eating breakfast (and other meals) and what a dramatic effect food can have on our mood and concentration in the short term, and later, in the long term with our overall health and well-being," explained 2C teacher Christine Bodt.
Students also learned to take their heart rate and analyze the results. "We took our heart rates after three minutes of stretching, then again after three minutes of jumping to compare the differences. Then we discussed the importance of aerobic activity for a healthy heart and lifestyle," Christine said.