fitCLUB

Mood Brainstorm Race

Help kids understand that their feelings and emotions put them in a mood. This activity helps kids connect knowing their mood to making healthy choices.

adult leader teaching kids about healthy habits
girls writing on a piece of paper
kids getting ready to play a game in a gym
smiling kids running in a gym
Kids running a relay outside on a grassy field
Group of kids doing yoga on mats outside
Home fitClub Session 3-Know Your Mood S3 Activity 2 Mood Brainstorm Race

Activity Purpose

This brainstorm activity helps kids understand that feelings and emotions put them in a mood. Knowing your mood helps motivation to make healthy choices.

Objectives

Recognize previously learned concepts about mood:

  • Mood is your motivation. 
  • Feelings and emotions put you in a mood. 
  • Moods change throughout the day.
  • Mood is an influencer of fit choices throughout the day.

Preparation

  • Talk Time: Kids sit and stretch or stand and march in place. Be sure they are a safe distance (arm’s length) apart.
  • Activity: Divide kids into small groups of 3-4. Distribute a marker or pencil and a piece of blank paper to each group.
  • Wrap Up: Kids sit in a circle for discussion.

Talk Time

Introduction

Q: What are some of the feelings and emotions you experience in your day?
A: Responses will vary. Allow kids to give their opinions and guide them to recall that they have many different feelings and emotions throughout the day.

Let's do a Brainstorm Race! Take a moment right now to think about what it means to motivate your mood. (Pause for 30 seconds to allow time for kids to think about their responses before continuing with the activity.)

Do The Activity

Activity Instructions
  1. Divide kids into small groups (3-4 kids per group). Each group picks a person to write.
  2. Give each group 1 piece of paper and a pencil or marker.
  3. Set a timer for 1 minute.
  4. Leader asks "What do you think it means to motivate your mood?" then starts the timer.
  5. Each group brainstorms together and writes their ideas on paper.
  6. After 1 minute leader asks each group to share their brainstorm thoughts about what they think "motivate your mood" means.
  7. Leader explains:
  • Mood is having the motivation and willingness to make a fit choice.
  • Your mood influences your choices. For example:
    • Sometimes you eat because you are bored, not hungry.
    • Sometimes you are in an “I won't” mood and do not want to be active.
  • Sometimes, to make a fit choice, you need to motivate your mood and talk yourself into making that choice. For example:
    • "I get bored watching TV. I will turn off the screen and go play outside."

Wrap Up

Reflections

Q: How do people, places, and things affect the choices you make during the day? These people, places, and things are called influencers.
A: People, places and things can affect your feelings and emotions. Your feelings and emotions put you in a mood, and your mood influences the choices you make.

Challenge

Remember the energy makers! What time will you go to bed tonight to get 9-12 hours of sleep?

Next Activity

Time: 5 Minutes

What You'll Need

Resources
Materials
  • Blank Paper
  • Markers or Pencils
  • Timer
  • Optional-Pad of Sticky Notes
Helpful Tips
  • Instead of being in small groups, create a large poster with "mood" written in the center. Kids write their brainstorm ideas randomly across the poster. Consider hanging the poster up to serve as a reminder.
  • Modify activity to be a Sticky-Note Storm! Everyone gets one sticky note. Set the timer for 2 minutes and have kids write down as many ways to motivate your mood as they can in the time allotted. Then, they share their ideas with each other.

Related Content

4 Corner Charades

 Grades 3-5, Teen

Kids play a game to practice recognizing different feelings, emotions, and moods. They also learn about strategies they can use to self-manage their moods.

Learn More

Stretch and Discuss Feelings and Emotions

 Grades 3-5, Teen

Kids do mindful breathing and stretching exercises while they talk about tips to help themselves manage their moods that result from feelings and emotions.

Learn More

Food Relay

 Grades 3-5, Teen

Kids learn that taking time to pause and recognize their feelings, emotions, and moods will help them to do a better job of making food and beverage choices.

Learn More

Choose to Move Run

 Grades 3-5, Teen

Help kids practice using positive self-talk to motivate themselves to come up with creative games and activities to be more active and reduce screen time.

Learn More

Healthy Food Basket

 Grades 3-5, Teen

Help kids dig deeper into food choices and healthy eating tips by learning to identify food and drinks that are more or less nutritious for their bodies.

Learn More

Session 5 Welcome

 Grades 3-5, Teen

Kids share about how fitClub helps them learn more about making healthy lifestyle choices like: recharge, mood, food, and movement to develop good habits.

Learn More