
Purple power
OK, so ignore the fact that I said I was taking a video hiatus. As we enter Halloween weekend, having thoroughly discussed the candy onslaught, I leave you with three (yes, three) videos from Elysian Charter School in Hoboken, N.J. The first one shows kids hip-hopping their way through a junk-food exchange that trades Halloween candy for smoothies (using a bicycle-powered blender, no less). So that was just too good to pass up.
Then I learned that the same school has produced two other music videos about kids and food: “Who Put that Burger on Your Plate?” and “I Fell in Love with Broccoli.” The videos are charming, clever, thoughtful. And fun. Very fun. They’re directed by teacher Aram Rubenstein-Gillis, a man on a mission to get kids thinking about where food comes from and how it affects their bodies. My kind of guy.
First, in honor of Halloween:
Next, in honor of cows, farmers and other underappreciated links in the food chain (also includes a nice nod to vegetarians):
And, finally, a ballad for broccoli (punctuated by sugar crashes):
Speaking of sugar, check out this fascinating piece from the New York Times this week, about the often irrational way in which people view candy (when they have no problem with, say, sugary granola bars, fruit leathers, Gatorade or juice boxes). Or, as Grist’s Tom Laskawy writes: “There’s nothing wrong with candy. It’s the candification of our other food that’s the problem.”
Have fun with the ghouls and goblins this weekend.
I watched all three of those and I LOVE THEM! I am going to pass these on to my home school network. What a wonderful way to learn about food and have fun! I had a french teacher in grade 8 who made movies with us while we practised french dialogue. Not quite as exciting as this, but it still made learning fun. I wish I could send my girls to that school!!
Oh my gosh – I love the bicycle blender…and how the kids are involved. Hurray for teaching kids to make good choices 🙂
It’s crazy how much work went into making these videos. It probably took months to stage, shoot, write the music, rehearse, etc. These people are really dedicated. This kind of creative thinking and passion is great for kids any way you look at it. Glad you posted them!