At the end of last month’s very popular interview with Tom Rath, I warned you I’d be back with more!
Modeled after Eat Move Sleep, Tom wrote a wonderful children’s book called The Rechargeables. His story follows two children, Poppy and Simon, on their adventures in discovering how to recharge themselves. I think this book would fly with any K- 6 crowd; when I read it with my Kindergartner, she loved the discussion questions like “What foods give you more energy throughout the day?” and “What helps you get a good night’s sleep?”
As a current parent and former classroom teacher, I know how easy it is to talk to kids about healthy food choices and getting to bed on time without really spelling out their purpose. The Rechargeables, though, explains the why: to help you be your best. At a time when academic achievement is at the front and center of every discussion, I want to be sure these foundational concepts don’t get lost as schools and teachers make decisions on food providers, recess time, PE schedules, and more.
This book would make a great foundation for an entire unit on healthy choices, but it could also easily function as a standalone read aloud. As a bonus, there are classroom activities (and stickers!) in the back. Here’s a shot of my OWN children (ages 5 and 2.5) wearing their rechargeable stickers on the front of their shirts. It led to a great morning conversation around why we shouldn’t pour MORE maple syrup on top of the oatmeal!
