The Best Me is an innovative program that helps elementary school students and their families understand the benefits of making healthier life choices. The program's centerpiece is a 45-minute live performance that uses audience participation, comedy, drama, music, and dance to promote healthy eating and active living.
The Best Me is available in two formats:
- The Best Me Assembly
- The Best Me Program (a weeklong commitment)
Schools are welcome to apply for either format. Availability may vary.
The Best Me Assembly
For grades 1-5
The Best Me Assembly is a 45-minute performance about healthy eating and active living. The play centers on four students—Dani, Max, Kayla, and Tino—striving to be “The Best Me” they can be. As each character struggles with a health or lifestyle issue, they help each other overcome their challenges and showcase their triumphs in a special performance for their school.
The performer/educators use comedy, drama, music, and dance to educate and encourage young audiences to make healthier choices. The four core messages of the Assembly are:
- To play hard or exercise for at least 60 minutes every day
- To limit screen time to no more than 2 hours a day
- To create balanced meals by eating at least 5 fruits and vegetables every day
- To drink water when thirsty instead of soda and juice drinks
To help reinforce the play's messages, educators are encouraged to download and use The Best Me Educator Guide. The Educator Guide includes stand-alone, supplemental classroom activities that support California State Content Standards.
The Best Me Program
For grades 3-5
The Best Me Program includes the same 45-minute performance as The Best Me Assembly. The Program includes several other components, including a principal and teacher orientation, in-class workshops, and the culminating Family Night event.
In-class workshops occur days after the performance and feature specially designed activities that complement the themes from the play. Teachers also receive The Best Me Educator Guide, which includes materials for follow-up activities that meet California State Content Standards. The Program concludes with a Family Night event where students and their families learn to make healthier choices together.
Due to the additional components described above, The Best Me Program requires a weeklong commitment and is more limited in availability than The Best Me Assembly.
