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For IB students, art imitates life  For seniors Dante DelGiacco and Vicky Lau, art class is more than painting and drawing, sculpting and designing – it is about life experiences, different cultures and funky ideas.  Continue

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Yates students plant bulbs for spring garden

Students in second, third and fifth grades at Yates Magnet School planted bulbs around the school  on Friday, October 26 as part of their science and art lessons.

The group first practiced measuring as they carefully planted each bulb exactly 6 inches in the ground. They also completed observational drawings in their science journals and made sure the bulbs were planted root side down.

The lessons in art class complimented the planting project.  The students learned about Georgia O'Keefe who painted very large flowers so that people would take notice of their outstanding beauty.

Neither the science or art lessons end here.  In the spring, the students will record the height of the flowers in their science journals and paint portraits of the flowers.

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Wellness
Paige Kids Laugh While They Learn About Nutrition and Exercise
Emmy-Award Winning Theater Show Addresses Childhood Obesity

“Read it before you eat it,” is just one of many messages the more than 350 students in grades 3 – 5 at  Paige School received at Monday’s FOODPLAY  production.  The Emmy-winning theater show presented lessons on exercise and nutrition through juggling, music, magic and audience participation.   

The two man show of Johnny Junkfood and Coach Tobe Fit  drew laughter from the young audience from the moment Tobe stepped onto the stage in his sweatsuit, whistle around his neck and basket of fruit behind.  Coach Tobe in funny fashion served  Johnny Junkfood, who was training for the juggling Olympics  - and juggled everything on stage from balls and fruit to  soda bottles and milk cartons -   a lesson on nutrition including the importance of reading labels, eating breakfast, making healthy choices and not falling prey to the unrealistic images we see in magazines.

As Johnny stepped center stage juggling, three, four, five balls into the air, Coach Tobe said, “It is important to juggle foods you eat to wind up with a nutritious diet.” “People are made from the food they eat,” he said as he pointed to himself and then focused on a large chart of the food pyramid.  "It is important for us all to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day."

Coach Tobe stressed throughout the show that good nutrition and exercise are vital to good health.  When Johnny moved across the stage juggling soda bottles, Coach Tobe stopped him and stepped right into a demonstration.  “Let’s see how much sugar is in a can of soda,” Coach said to Tobe.  He poured and poured and poured, demonstrating that sold is loaded with sugar.   “This kind of energy will make him run around until he crashes,” explained coach about Johnny.  “ You are not going to make the juggling Olympics eating this stuff,” he told Johnny right as he fell to floor, drawing loud laughter.

“We are polluting our bodies with chemicals,” Coach said.  He also told the kids that the average American buys 600 cans of soda a year.  “Just think about that,” said Coach, “what can you buy with $600?” 

Coach Tobe quizzed the students on healthy options.  “What else is there to drink?” he asked.  “The group shouted, “water!”  Coach Tobe stressed the importance of drinking eight glasses of water everyday.  “Fruit juice, milk and water,” are healthy drink choices,” said Coach to Johnny as he turned to his  student audience for approval.  “1% milk is good for your heart and bones.”

Johnny began juggling and eating an apple at the same time.  “Apples, yogurt, eggs, whole wheat toast with peanut butter or apple butter are healthy breakfast choices,” said Coach Tobe.  “If you don’t have time to eat breakfast at home, be sure to eat it at school.”

Coach continued a lesson on healthy choices and prompted the group to shout,  “Kids with brains eat whole grains.” He pointed to the first ingredients on a chart-size food label while explaining how to read it.  “This tells us what is in foods and drinks.”

Coach Tobe then addressed the images we see in magazines.  “Not many people look like that and those that do may be unhealthy,” he said.  “We can’t judge a book by it’s cover.”

He also explained to the group that going on a quick fix diet is the most dangerous thing kids their ages can do.  “We are all different and that is a great thing.” 

The interactive show concluded with the on-stage game show, Pyramid Power in which three students were selected to participate in a test of their food smarts and consumer knowledge.   

The FOODPLAY show presented at Paige was sponsored by the local Hannaford Supermarket.

FOODPLAY’s research-based programs have reached over two million school children throughout the country and have been shown to dramatically improve the nutrition and health habits of the nation’s youth.  Created under original sponsorship by the U.S. Department of Agriculture by Barbara Storper, MS, RD, a national leader in the field of children’s nutrition and performed by professional actors from around New England, FOODPLAY programs have received rave reviews and a host of awards including an Emmy Award for “Best Children and Youth TV Special” when created for television.

www.foodplay.com

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Fine Arts