Memory Power

• Safety: Allow enough space to move freely and minimize collisions.
• Ensure equipment and materials are properly cleaned. 
• Determine boundaries that are a safe distance from obstacles and walls.
• Determine how you will group learners, using best practice guidelines from Effective Strategies for Grouping Learners.
• Determine locomotor movements for game play.
• Be prepared to demonstrate fitBoost activity and fitFlow yoga.

Begin with a fitBoost.

 Say: Show your preference for each question.

1. Would you rather play a video game after school or play a sport? 

• Cross your right arm across your chest and stretch if you would rather play a video game. 
• Cross your left arm across your chest and stretch if you would rather play a sport. 

2. Would you rather watch TV or go for a bike ride?

• Sit back with your arms behind your head if you would rather watch TV.
• Pretend to buckle your helmet and steer a bike if you prefer riding a bike. 

3. Would you rather do your homework before going outside to play or after playing outside? 

• Sit very still if you would rather do homework first.
• Move your body if you would rather play outside before doing your homework.

Did you know that being active helps you think? When you are active, you strengthen your bones and muscles, and you give your energy a boost. As a bonus, all that blood pumping through your body brings oxygen to your brain to give you more brain power! Brainpower helps you do your best to focus and learn.

The number one thing you need to know is that moving many times, in many ways, and in many places each day makes your body strong and lights up your brain!

Today’s activity is a fun game called Memory Power, where you will move to help you remember the color of hidden beanbags.

1. Partner learners.
   
   
2. Each pair chooses a beanbag color. They will attempt to find as many of their colored beanbags as possible during a 2 to 3 minute round.
   
   
3. On the signal, the first player from each team does a locomotor movement to a frisbee and looks under it.
   
   
4. If the beanbag under the frisbee is the same color as the team's beanbag, they take it back with them; if it's not, they put the frisbee back over the beanbag and return to their partner.
   
   
5. The partner does a locomotor movement to another frisbee, trying to find a matching beanbag. 
   
   
6. Partners continue taking turns until time is up. How many beanbags did they collect?
   
   
7. Mix the frisbees and play another round. Partners may choose to change colors.
   
   
8. Time each round for 1 to 3 minutes.
   
   
9. Challenge learners to increase the number of beanbags found each round.
   
   
10. Assist learners to make the connection between their physical activity and being able to remember where the bags are hidden. Ask, “Does play get easier or more difficult each round?” 

1. Partner learners.
   
   
2. Select a fitFlow card and complete the poses.
   
   
3. While the kids are stretching, recap that they used both their bodies and brains to do the beanbag activity.
   
   
4. Ask students to explain why it is important to move throughout the day. Reinforce comments about the benefits to the brain (attention, learning).
   
   
5. Assess understanding with the following questions:

Q: Was it easier or more difficult to remember where the bags were hidden during each round of play?
A: Acknowledge that it got easier because, after moving, your heart pumps blood and oxygen to your brain to help you think and remember.

Q: Why is it important to move your body throughout the day?
A: Moving benefits the body’s bones and muscles and the brain’s attention and learning.

Q: What are some of your favorite ways to move?
A: Assess whether they include different times throughout the day, not just at PE or recess.

Q: What can you tell your friends or family about being active?
A: Movement is much more than exercise. Move many times and in many ways throughout the day, picking activities you enjoy! It's great for your body and your brain!

Q: How will you add movement to your day? 
A: Assess learners' examples of physical activity throughout the day. Do they describe the many times and many ways they can be active?

When, where, and how will you move to increase your brain power?