Jonathan Frederick presented a high-energy game show to kindergartners through second graders at Head O’Meadow Elementary School, Friday, October 30, followed by a second presentation for the upper grades, later in the morning. “The Brain Show” is based on the children’s grade level curriculums, Mr Frederick explained, prior to the start of the 9:30 am program. “I describe it as a cross between Jeopardy and Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” he said.

Each program consisted of three rounds of 15 students each, broken into three teams of five. Handed a numbered card from the energetic host, students dashed to the stage in the cafetorium and clustered about the podiums matching their numbers, ready to answer Mr Frederick’s questions.

Questions covered math, science, health, music, language arts, foreign languages, physical education, and more. As swiftly as their host finished his question, students jumped to be the first team to hit the buzzer and answer correctly. A right answer earned the team 100 points, a wrong answer lost them no points, and there was only one way to lose the earned points: if a team with points did not dance.

Each question was preceded by a short lesson from Mr Frederick of silly dance moves required when the music played. Not surprisingly, students were happy to comply, ensuring that no points were taken away in the course of the program.

Kindergartners, first graders, and second graders were thrilled when they had special team members join in on the final round. Dressed for Halloween, The Cat In The Hat (teacher Ms Kuligowski), Cindy-Lou Who (Ms Iorfino), Thing 1 (Ms Keith) and Thing 2 (Ms Divert), as well as Ms Washicko and Ms Dreger, found themselves up on stage and doing their best to help their young team members come up with the right answers.

“It’s always a lot of fun,” Mr Frederick said, and Friday morning’s program seemed to bear truth to that statement.