Generation FIT- Brainy Stuff For Game Masters and WiiLs [email_address] www.generation-fit.com Copyright 2008 invenTEAM

Generation FIT- Brainy Stuff Meet the cast of characters

Here’s the pump – what’s his name and what does he do?

Here’s the messenger – have you ever heard of a neurotransmitter?

Here’s the character that “rules in school” – Do you know him?

Starring: Ordinary Kids Brian and Brianna – Kids with Brains

Learning Can Be Fun Brian and Brianna fill their brains at school But – here is a tough question….

Brian and Brianna fill their brains at school

But – here is a tough question….

How Do Brian and Brianna Learn?

How Do They Learn? They bring more than a brain to school – and to life!

They bring more than a brain to school – and to life!

We all bring a whole body to school– A Brain and MORE

We bring a whole body – and a HEART ready to help us LEARN How can a heart help Brian and Biranna learn?

How can a heart help Brian and Biranna learn?

Healthy Heart – The brain’s BFF How did they become such great friends?

How did they become such great friends?

They are a GREAT Learning Team Physical exercise increases blood flow in the brain Active Exercise – getting the heart pumping- increases brain chemicals known as NEUROTRANSMITTERS

Physical exercise increases blood flow in the brain

Active Exercise – getting the heart pumping- increases brain chemicals known as NEUROTRANSMITTERS

This is a good time to do the “Active Me Activity”

Jump up and down – right now

What part of your body is pushing your breath in and out right now? LUNGS!

Feel your chest. What is pumping very hard? Your Heart

The heart pumps blood to your lungs and all over your body -

Even to your head where your BRAIN can use it

Your brain NEEDS the OXYGEN that the blood delivers

Your brain USES 20% of all the OXYGEN that the blood delivers to your body

The more your exercise -

The more blood your heart pumps all over your body – and to your BRAIN -

Your brain USES 20% of all the OXYGEN that the HEART delivers to your body in the BLOOD OXYGEN

Your brain USES BLOOD to get all sorts of great things!

Like NEUROTRANSMITTERS?

Huh? What’s a NEUROTRANSMITTER? Nancy the Neurotransmitter is like the fastest Internet connection She delivers messages, and images and LEARNING

Nancy the Neurotransmitter is like the fastest Internet connection

She delivers messages, and images and LEARNING

Neurotransmitters move information around the brain, from nerve cell to nerve cell Exercise – getting the heart pumping- increases how many neurotransmitters our BRAIN has

Neurotransmitters move information around the brain, from nerve cell to nerve cell

Exercise – getting the heart pumping- increases how many neurotransmitters our BRAIN has

More NEUROTRANSMITTERs- Now What? The benefits come when you finish your great exercise Blood flow shifts to the “learning” side of the brain The brain gets full of neurotransmitters that get us really READY to learn

The benefits come when you finish your great exercise

Blood flow shifts to the “learning” side of the brain

The brain gets full of neurotransmitters that get us really READY to learn

Hippos and Brains Hey – Who’s this? Memory Trick

Hey – Who’s this?

It’s a HIPPO Wonder what part of the BRAIN that is? Memory Trick

Wonder what part of the BRAIN that is?

Memory Trick School – the place you learn … It is called a campus

School – the place you learn …

It is called a campus

Put those images together Hippo and campus

Hippo and campus

It’s a HIPPOCAMPUS Now you what part of the BRAIN that is- Memory Trick

Now you what part of the BRAIN that is-

Hippos and Brains Workouts and exergames build better connections between brain cells See that HIPPO playing hard!!! What part of her brain is she helping?

Workouts and exergames build better connections between brain cells

See that HIPPO playing hard!!!

Hippos and Brains Heart-hopping PLAY can increase good learning cells in your hippocampus Exercise BEFORE You Need to Learn

Heart-hopping PLAY can increase good learning cells in your hippocampus

Hippos and Brains The hippocampus is the region of the brain involved in learning and memory. Memory Trick

The hippocampus is the region of the brain involved in learning and memory.

Feeding Our Brain: A Fact A high fat diet, like the “ All-American diet ”, decreases your BDNF levels in the hippocampus Is THAT good for learning and memory?

A high fat diet, like the “ All-American diet ”, decreases your BDNF levels in the hippocampus

Is THAT good for learning and memory?

Feeding Our Brain: A Fact Are you wondering: What are BDNF levels anyway? What does my brain really need?

Are you wondering: What are BDNF levels anyway?

What does my brain really need?

Feeding Your Brain Remember this one: Your BRAIN is hungry for BDNF. B DNF

Remember this one: Your BRAIN is hungry for BDNF.

An Example: Feeding Plants Plants don’t need a burger, fruits – or even spaghetti! They need ________, ________ and ____________________.

Plants don’t need a burger, fruits – or even spaghetti!

They need ________, ________ and ____________________.

Feeding Plants To grow really big and strong, plants need fertilizer – like Miracle Gro

To grow really big and strong, plants need fertilizer – like Miracle Gro

Feeding Brains: Not a Plant B rains D on’t N eed F ertilizer They need BDNF Memory Trick

B rains D on’t N eed F ertilizer

They need BDNF

Miracle Gro for the Brain? Active exercise and play helps your brain make “ B rain- D erived N eurotrophic F actor ” That is BDNF - a protein that ACTS LIKE Miracle-Gro for YOUR brain.

Active exercise and play helps your brain make

“ B rain- D erived N eurotrophic F actor ”

That is BDNF - a protein that ACTS LIKE Miracle-Gro for YOUR brain.

Miracle Gro for the Brain? Physical activity is the best way to release lots of BDNF

Physical activity is the best way to release lots of BDNF

How Do Brian and Brianna Learn? What do they need to bring to school – and use – besides a brain?

What do they need to bring to school – and use – besides a brain?

How Do Brian and Brianna Learn? Why is the heart the brain’s best friend?

Why is the heart the brain’s best friend?

Exer Learning …. A new word What do you think the definition of Exer Learning could be? http:// exerlearning.blogspot.com /

What do you think the definition of Exer Learning could be?

Exer Learning …. And Generation FIT would like to thank Dr. John Ratey for his research. We learned a lot of this from his book, SPARK http://exerlearning.blogspot.com/ It’s a “must read’ for teachers and parents, available at amazon.com

Generation FIT and ExerLearning Why does a school need Game Masters and WiiLs? [email_address] www.generation-fit.com Copyright 2008 invenTEAM