Make My Mind Mind

Idea behind the song:

I attended an in-service provided by our district one cold February afternoon on sensory stimulation. They played an exercise song for us that was clearly for early elementary school. It reminded me of this song they used to play in PE in elementary school that had the line, "go you chicken fat go, go you chicken fat, go!" All I remember (and I have remembered this for 35 or so years--proof of something!) is that I loved it! I looked around the room as my friend/colleague Cathy and I were exercising...and everyone had smiles on their faces! In just a few minutes, the mood of the entire room changed. I wondered if I could create a song with the same intent...only for older students. At the same time, I wish to always teach students how to "take care" of their minds...to get the most from it. If you teach them to "work with" rather than against their brains, they feel empowered.

I didn't want the song to be too invigorating, as over-stimulation would cause them to be hard to settle down. Around this time I heard of a study in Canada where they had students jump (weight-bearing exercise) a few seconds per day and it was actually effective at increasing bone strength! I decided to throw in a little jumping. Field test? My students LOVE it! This is not competing against rock and roll off the radio...it is competing against the boredom of sitting still forever!

Lesson idea:

You can turn this on as they are coming in from the hall and define your class " starting point". Another idea is to use it mid-point through a block session. Yet another idea is in the break during a standardized test. I tell my students that they can move as much or as little (stay seated if they wish) as they want (as long as they are completely safe). I teach them the words so they understand the meaning of the song (and encourage them to sing--another brain friendly activity). I teach them the rhythm of the clap. During the breaks, they do any dance moves they want (I have taught them the "Bat Man" and "the swim". They have taught me "the sprinkler" and "the lawn mower" and...

Anyway, on the last beat of the songs, they have their bottoms on the chair. It gives an ending point and postures us to get back to work. So far, my students love it...have I told you how adorable my students are this year?

Let the endorphins flow!!

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