OVERVIEW
| Description: | Students imitate a healthy heart beating with their bodies and voices. |
|---|---|
| Objective: | Students will gain an understanding that healthy foods are important for a healthy heart. |
ACTIVITY
- Gather the students into a circle. Tell them to make sure they have enough room to stretch their arms out at their sides without touching anyone.
- Ask for a few examples of healthy foods. Tell them these foods are good for their bodies, minds, and hearts.
- Ask the students if they have ever heard the expression: "You are what you eat." Ask them what they think it means (the healthier the food you eat, the better you feel). Tell them healthy foods make their hearts healthy, and healthy hearts make happy kids!
- Tell them they are going to use their bodies and voices to imitate the sounds of a healthy heart.
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Teach them the following five actions and have them move in sync.
- Squat down, hit the floor twice, and say, "Pump, pump."
- Hop up and down using both feet and say, "Jump, jump."
- Clap your hands twice and say, "Clap, clap."
- Slide side to side and say, "Tap, tap."
- Hop on left foot, hop on right foot, and say, "Beat, beat."
- Have them continue until they have memorized the routine.
- Perform the action rhyme at a faster pace until students are moving very fast.
- Then slow the action rhyme down as their hearts get ready to rest.
- You may also wish to invite the students to create their own "healthy heart" movements.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Healthy ("Go") Foods and Drinks:
- all fruits
- pretzels
- beans
- fish
- grilled turkey
- all nuts
- peanut butter
- all vegetables
- whole grain breads and crackers
- high fiber cereals
- low-fat or skim milk
- grilled chicken
- low-fat yogurt and cheese
- whole grain rice and pastas
Related National Standards
Further information about the national standards can be found here.
