Boosting Athletic Performance!

Advice Columns on Eating Healthy to Boost Athletic Performance

Write an advice column or news article for kids your age. What should kids eat the night before the big game or race? For breakfast the day before? After the game to restore their electrolytes and other nutrients? Answer these questions and cite the article that you read.

By Veronica

Hi kids! Do you ever feel nervous before a big soccer game or tennis match? You might chow down on a donut, for breakfast and then for the after game snack, eat a Twix. By doing this, you are weakening your muscles and driving your brain into the sugar crash zone. Before your big game, I would suggest eating a piece of fruit and maybe some eggs. This is very healthy, and filling while having the right number of electrolytes in it. During the game, drink lots of water and sports drinks such as Gatorade. Gatorade has electrolytes in it helping keep you brain and body fueled. After the game be sure to nurture your body with healthy food. Good foods to eat after are things such as a sandwich, fruit, carrots, and water.

By Jessica

Hello everyone, Fit Faith here! Hope you are all having a happy and healthy day. Today I will be talking about nutrition for sports. Before your event (days, hours) you should know that fats are very slow to digest and you also need good sources of nutrition or you are at risk for a sugar crash. During your event you need to stay hydrated and water or Gatorade is the best. After the event you should continue to eat healthy but increase your sugar and salt intake a little to restore sweat glands. 

Health Class: Sports Psychology and Visualization

Watch this movie about visualization: The Human Mind: Visualization

VISUALIZATION

Veronica

Which sport are you going to visualize?

Tennis

What do you want to do?

I want to have better form and accuracy during my serve.

Now write the paragraph describing what you see.

I see myself throw the fuzzy green ball up in the air as I lean my weight onto my back legs. I lay my tennis racket on my shoulders, and when the ball reaches the highest point, swing. When I hit the ball it makes a soft thumping sound, my racket starts at 7:00 o’clock then twists over to 11:00 o’clock giving the ball spin. Then I transfer my weight to my front leg, and wait until I hit the ball to cross the line. I feel the wind on my cheek as the ball flies over the net.

Now check your paragraph: Vivid, detailed, positive, 5 senses.

Now spend 5 solid minutes with your eyes closed visualizing and rehearsing the same scene in your mind.

Congratulations! You just connected pathways in your brain and strengthened your muscles.

VISUALIZATION

Jessica 

Which sport are you going to visualize? Swim

What do you want to do? I want to do a perfect breaststroke

Now write the paragraph describing what you see.

I have my hand on the blue tile wall. Its  a bit slippery but the cement side helps. My pink swim cap is pulled low on my forehead and my goggles are clear and don't have any water in them. My coach shouts go and I dive underwater. I taste traces of salt mixed with chlorine. I bring my arms forward as I start to lose are and do my underwater pull through ending with a quick dolphin kick. I pull through and kick my legs in froggy. I reach the wall with two hands and start off again. I repeat these movements again to the next wall. I am breathing hard.

Great writing, ladies!

Political Cartoon Analysis

In 5th grade history class, we are comparing the American Revolution to the Egyptian Revolution and learning about political cartoons. You can read Veronica's analysis of a political cartoon below. 

Political Cartoon Analysis Questions

By Veronica

1.     Describe the mood of the cartoon.

The mood of the cartoon is fear of the officials from the new “weapons” (social media) of the protesters.

2.     What techniques or devices does the artist use? Caricature? Symbolism? Ridicule? Puns?

The artist is taking a well known social media website, Twitter, that was used by protester to bring down Mubarak and the repression of police officers and making it look like an innocent bird scaring an officer. This is funny because the protesters biggest weapon was Facebook and Twitter.

3.     What issue or event does the cartoon deal with?

The issue that the cartoon deals with is the police officer is trying to repress the revolution, but because of social media, more people keep hearing about the revolution and joining in.

4.     Describe the action that is taking place.

The police officer is trying to kill the bird, or is trying to kill twitter and the revolution, but the bird has more power and is winning.

5.     What is the purpose of the cartoon? What is its message? Is it effective?

The purpose of the cartoon is to show people that because of new technology there are now new non- violent ways of protesting and beating repression. This cartoon is effective because it shows the power of Twitter and Facebook.

6.     Who is the intended audience?

The intended audience is people interested in the Egyptian Revolution, and how social media beat Mubarak.

7.     Whose viewpoint does it represent?

It represents the protesters viewpoint, because Twitter is winning and is powerful. The protester used Twitter knowing that it was powerful.

8.     What groups would agree/disagree with the cartoon's message? Why?

People who are against technology, Twitter, and Facebook and people who wanted to repress the revolution because, the officer who is trying to beat the bird is losing, so people on the police’s side would disagree because they want the police to win.

News Comparison Analysis

As part of the digital and media literacy unit for 7th grade English class, we are analyzing the same news story as reported by four different newspapers/blogs. You can read the assignment below. 

News Article Comparison

You will compare the same news story in four different publications: The NY Times blog, The Washington Post, Huffington Post, and a UK publication.

Topic:

Mark Zuckerberg gets married

Answer this: 1. Is this news? Why? Why is this story relevant?

Next: Read the following articles:

a. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/reliable-source/post/mark-zuckerberg-and-priscilla-chan-how-they-pulled-off-their-surprise-wedding/2012/05/20/gIQAQVK1dU_blog.html 

b. NY Times

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/19/mark-zuckerberg-ties-the-knot/?ref=style

c. Uk Newspaper

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/second-best-day-of-his-life-mark-zuckerberg-surprises-friends-with-secret-wedding-7769678.html

d. Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/22/the-curious-timing-of-mar_n_1535698.html

2. In the chart below, summarize each article in detail. Do they cover different content?

NY Times	Washington Post	Huff Post	The Independent UK

3. WHY do they cover different content? How is the slant or bias of each news source conveyed in the article? Write your answer in paragraph form addressing each news source.

4. Do you detect any of these types of bias?

▪   Advertising bias, when stories are selected or slanted to please advertisers.

▪   Corporate bias, when stories are selected or slanted to please corporate owners of media.

▪   Mainstream bias, a tendency to report what everyone else is reporting, and to avoid stories that will offend anyone.

Sensationalism, bias in favor of the exceptional over the ordinary, giving the impression that rare events, such as airplane crashes, are more common than common events, such as automobile crashes.

categories from wiki.

Advertising Analysis

Jessica is working on media and literacy analysis. She analyzed the following ad for her ad analysis essay. Proctor and Gamble made this commercial for its products, which support the London Olympics, just in time for Mother's Day. It will almost make you cry.


"The Best Job in the World"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NScs_qX2Okk


Stay tuned for Jessica's ad analysis essay later this week.

Keeping up with Current Events!

Veronica read an article about pollutants' effects on baby sea otters from the Time for Kids Website. Check out the article here: http://www.timeforkids.com/news/making-waves/37011

Look at this Current Events Graphic Organizer

Introduce article (including title, author, date of edition) Include link if downloaded from Internet	Making Waves by Vicky An April 23, 2012 Time for Kids http://www.timeforkids.com/news/making-waves/37011
Why was this article interesting or relevant (1-2 sentences)	1. This article is about how we need to be aware of the pollutants we are putting in the water. 2. This is relevant, because in science class we are learning about the Dead Zone and how the fertilizers kill and injure animals.
Summary of the Article (at least 4 sentences)	1. Monterey Bay Aquarium is taking care of 501 until he is fully healed. 2. They are making a movie about 501 including how he was injured and how we can prevent this. 3. Katie Pofahl is another star in the movie, she is the one who found 501. 4. This article is also saying that we need to be careful of what we put in the water.
Recommend: Tell why a friend should read it. 4 sentences	1. This article is very interesting because it inspires you to help stop pollution because it is hurting animals. 2. They should also read this so that they know about the new movie, Otter 501 so they can go see it. 3. This article as Katie says is also saying to readers that you can be a scientist no matter what gender or age you are. 4. I would recommend this to a friend, to spread awareness of fertilizers we are putting in the water.
Include a  quote from the article in the summary or recommendation paragraph which adds 1-2 sentences	This article is about an otter who was rescued on the beach of Big Sur CA. They are going to make a movie about the hardships in his life. “We have an amazing opportunity to help people be aware of how they impact the world.” –Pofahl
Conclude by stating the questions you have AND what you would like to read more about in the future relating to this topic.	What will happen to 501 when he is healthy again? When will the movie come out? How old is 501? How old was he when the biologists found him? I would like to know more about all the pollutants we are putting in our ocean.