Bridging imagination, education, comedy, and great beats, the Alphabet Rockers bring something special “to the table. “

Thinking up creative snacks and lunchtime meals for school sometimes gives me a little bit of anxiety. My daughter is a picky about food temperatures and textures which makes creating a balanced meal feel like a challenge. Serving up veggies in a little container somehow doesn’t taste as good when it’s packed in her lunchbox. And trying to “educate” her on why she should fill her tummy with healthy food doesn’t always get through the way it’s supposed to. This is especially true when she sees her friends pulling cookies and other sweet treats out of their lunch boxes.

For my daughter, candy, or anything containing sugar, is a righteous culinary choice. That’s the stuff the makes you feel goooood! Sometimes, she’ll ask for a “healthy dessert” which includes cut-up banana pieces and brown sugar. In her mind, she is satisfying my definition of healthy eating as well as hers, which I definitely appreciate (and get a chuckle from).

In the premiere episode of their web series, the Alphabet Rockers introduce young children to the “food calculator,” a helpful nutritional tool. The episode starts off with three friends sharing what they packed for snack. As they consult their “food calculators” they quickly learn which foods are healthy to eat.

WHAT YOU’LL LOVE ABOUT IT: The Alphabet Rockers present educational concepts in a playful and relatable way. They put themselves in a real world situation, sharing snacks, because that’s what kids do at school. As they roll through their healthy choices, one of them has candy. When they consult the food calculator, it bombs. So the friends work together and come up with a successful resolution. The message here is nutrition, and the way the friends were problem solving together is an added bonus. It’s important for kids to see that their friends can make a difference to them.

Following the skit, you will be treated to a music video for the song “Food Calculator” from the trio’s award-winning album Go!. 

NOTE: Make sure to scroll down to find dance instruction, an art activity, and more educational tools that encourage literacy. You can even print out and make your own Food Calculator!

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: “Food Calculator” is an essential song featured in many of Alphabet Rockers’ workshops. 

WANT TO LEARN MORE? You can extend the fun beyond using the palm of your hand by using their extended curriculum for visual arts and movement activities.  Stay up to date with Alphabet Rockers’ tours, workshops, assemblies and news via their Facebook Page.

LEARN THE DANCE MOVES!

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PRINTABLE FOOD CALCULATOR PAGE – CLICK HERE

ART ACTIVITY AND LITERACY TOOL

These exercises can be used in the classroom and at home:

1. Brainstorm Healthy Foods, A to Z.

2. Names: Alphabet Letter: Healthy Food: Have students decide which letters in the alphabet are in the class as first letters of students’ names. Erase those not in the class. [This is a great review tool, or a chance to assess literacy development.]

3. Trace hands on construction paper, have students draw a picture of the healthy food associated with the student, or another healthy food they love. Have students cut out the hands.

4. Add the hands to wipe board, or paper (identified as the “Food Calculator”), with a share out from students.