HealthMATHTM - BrainSMARTTM Mathematics for Higher Test Scores and Healthier Lives
Marcus Conyers and Donna Wilson Ph.D. BrainSMART Inc.
(Thanks to the Winter Park Health Foundation and Brookshire Elementary School)
The HealthMATHTM Mission
Research from the classrooms with the highest mathematics test scores on the world indicate that students must have extensive practice with real world applications of mathematical principles to excel on standardized tests. Our mission is to equip every student with the ability to think critically and mathematically about what they eat and how they exercise so that they build a healthy brain body system and a lifelong mastery of mathematics. This is critical today as obesity has doubled since 1991.
The HealthMATHTM Process
We support teachers and parents as they help students to develop a strong number sense about the relationship between what they eat, how they exercise and the impact on their energy level and wellness. For example students could be asked to create a new labeling system for food products that would support healthy decision by consumers. They would then create advertising campaigns to promote their ideas and research the effectiveness of their work.
Students would also be encouraged to read labels, pack their own healthy lunches and snacks. Students discover key information and are able to answer questions like...
1. How many calories worth of exercise do you need to have to burn a pound of body fat?
2. If you consumed 192 calories less per day how many pounds could you lose in a year?
3. How many spoonfuls of sugar are there in a 12 oz can of soda?
4. How far would you have to walk to burn the calories from one can of soda?
5. How many calories does a pound of body fat burn per day?
6. How many calories does a pound of muscle burn per day?
7. If you eat the recommended daily fruits and vegetables how many do you eat per week?
8. How many calories do you burn you by walking a mile?
9. How many calories do you need to burn per week to maximize health?
10. How many pounds of sugar does the average American consume in a year?
(Answers here)
HealthMATHTM Projects.
Distance graduate education courses on the Science of Learning and the Brain that include HealthMATH and other thinking tools will be available with Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services at Nova Southeastern University. E-Mail marcus@brainsmart.com
