The yellow brick road…to good health!

LaCrosse County WNEP

2003

 

Scene 1:      Milford is sitting at the dinner table discussing with his mother an assignment that his teacher gave the class.  They were to write a paper titled…” The path to good health is…”   Milford looks tired.

 

Narrator:   It is dinner time at the Jones home in Simpletown, USA.  Milford, a fourth grader at Simpletown Elementary, and his mother are discussing his homework assignment for the night.  Milford looks tired.  Let’s listen in…

 

Mother:      Honey, it’s time to eat. Did you wash your hands?

 

Milford:      (looking glum with head resting on hands) Sigh….yeah

 

Mother:     What’s wrong dear?  Are you feeling sick?  (puts hand on forehead)  You look so tired.

 

Milford:      I feel fine, and I’m not (yawn) tired.

 

Mother:      Well, I think that instead of watching TV after school, you should go outside and play.  The fresh air will do you good.  And I did find your breakfast still on the table this morning after you left for school.  You didn’t eat a thing.

 

Milford:      Well I don’t feel like eating that stuff in the morning, and besides….it wasn’t my favorite food.

 

Mother:      But you didn’t even try it.   You have to give new foods a chance.

 

Milford:      Well, I was too tired to try it anyway.

 

Mother:      It looks like from now on bedtime will be a little earlier for you, Milford.

 

Milford:      (yawns)  I’ll be up late tonight. We're supposed to write a paper titled “the road to good health is…”  The trouble is, I can’t think of one thing to write about. (yawning)

 

 

 

Mother:      (Places Milford’s plate of food in front of him…then turns her back to him as she keeps talking)  Oh, Milford (Milford is slowly falling asleep into his meal), the path to good health is everything that we have been talking (turns around) about….  Milford?  Milford?

 

PUPPET

SCENES     (Place display board on table in front of Milford and dinner scene.)  Someone walks by with a cloud with pictures of Milford sitting in front of the TV, a yawn, breakfast, a clock, and the words “DREAM SCENE”.

 

Narrator:   Suddenly, things got a little cloudy for Milford.  He was thinking about all of the things that he and his mother had talked about…how much time he spent watching TV, his picky eating, how he hated to go to bead at night and the dreaded homework assignment.  As Milford drifted off to sleep he found himself in a new land…filled with the morning sun.  He soon discovered he was walking on a yellow brick road.  Could it possibly be the same yellow brick road that would lead to the Wizard?

 

Milford:      Oh my goodness, where am I?  What happened to me.  This is a strange land.  I don’t have time for this! I have a paper to write.  What is this odd path?  It looks like the yellow brick road from the movie, but it says “road to good health”.  (yellow brick road with cornfield scene **)

                   (excited)  Hey!  Maybe this will lead me to a Wizard who will help me write my paper.

 

Scarecrow: (quietly) shoo!   Shoo!

 

Milford:      What was that?  I thought that I heard someone say “Sue”.

 

Scarecrow: Shoo!  It’s me, over here.  I’m supposed to be shooing the crows away, but I seem to be the most popular place for them to gather.

 

Milford:      A talking scarecrow?  I must be dreaming.  Do you need some help getting down?

 

Scarecrow: Any fool could figure out how to get down from here. The problem is, my thinker is thunk out.

 

Milford:      You mean, your brain?

 

Scarecrow: Yes.  Oh, how I long to be good thinker again.  (Stomach growls).

 

Milford:      Was that your tummy growling? (scolding)  Haven’t you had breakfast today?

 

Scarecrow: No, I haven’t eaten breakfast for years.

 

Milford:      I’m not a big breakfast eater either.  My mom is always telling me that I need to eat something good in the morning so that my body is refueled for the day.  She read somewhere that kids who eat breakfast do better in school, too.   You know, maybe you can come with me on this yellow brick road and we can see the Wizard together.  I’m trying to write a paper on “the road to good health” and I’m hoping that he can help me.

 

Scarecrow: Oh, could I come!  I just know that the Wizard can help me too.  This is just like in the movie!  New brain, here I come!!

 

Narrator:    So the two new friends skipped down the yellow brick road to find the Wizard.  (scarecrow is wobbly).  Soon they came to a forest.  Shhh…I think I hear a mouse….

 

Tin Man:    (slowly) Squeak, squeak. (calls out)  Oil, oil! Please give me some oil!

 

Milford:      Did you hear something?  It sounded like “Milford, Milford”

 

Scarecrow: No, it sounded like “soil, soil” Maybe there is something on the ground.

 

Scarecrow: (spotting the Tin Man up ahead) Wow, he looks really rusty.   Let’s give him some oil so that he can talk.  (oils him)

 

Tin Man:    Oh, thank you!  I haven’t moved for so long.  I can barely bend my arms and legs. (grunts & groans - moves around) I feel so much better when I get a chance to walk around.   Who are you and where are you going?

 

Milford:      We are going to see the Wizard.  I’m hoping that he can help me with my homework on good health, and the scarecrow is hoping that he can get a brain.

 

Tin Man:    Do you think that he could help me too?  You see, I don’t have a heart…or at least a strong one anymore.  When I was young, I used to run, and play and jump.  I guess that as I got older, I quit moving around…and now I’m just a pile of squeaky tin.

 

Scarecrow: Why don’t you come with us to see the Wizard.

 

Tin Man:    That would be great. (they start walking)  Hey, I’m feeling better already! Do you mind if we have something for breakfast …I am awfully hungry.

 

Milford:      I have an apple and some cereal in my backpack.  Mom is always trying to get me to eat breakfast.  I guess we could all share it.  (shares food with the scarecrow and tin man).

 

Troll:          Yoohoo --- Are you sure that you don’t want something a little sweeter….like this lollypop? How about a candy bar?

 

Tin Man:    Oh no, it’s the terrible treats troll!  Don’t take it!  He tries to get you to eat candy and junk food for every meal.  I fell for it a couple of years ago and boy did my body feel awful.  No thank you, little troll. Go Away! (Troll disappears)

 

Narrator:    So with their tummies filled with the breakfast that Milford’s mom packed, the three friends picked up their pace and continued on their journey to see the Wizard.

 

Lion:           (pops out from behind a tree) Excuse me, but "Roar"

 

Milford, Scarecrow,

and Tin Man:       Ahhhh! Yikes - a lion? Not a very scary lion. He looks scared of us.

 

Lion:           (ducks down) Ahhhhhh!  Oh, it’s no use.  I’m always going to be a scaredy cat.    (pause)   Who are you? You shouldn't be walking through my forest! You know I am supposed to be King here.

                   (pause) You aren't going to hurt me are you?

 

Milford:      Of course not Mr. Lion, I’m Milford, and these are my friends, scarecrow and tin man.  We are going to see the Wizard.  I need help with my homework, the scarecrow needs a good thinking brain, and the tin man is looking for a strong heart.  We just had breakfast.  Would you like some?

 

Lion:           (looks at cereal) What is that?  Oh, I'm afraid that I won't like it.

 

Scarecrow: Don’t be scared to try something new lion.

 

Lion:           Oh, it’s true.  I’m scared of everything…the dark, my shadow, and even new foods.  I know that I should be eating a lot of different kinds of food, but I just don’t have the courage.  Say, do you think that the Wizard could help me, too?

 

Milford:      I’m sure that he can. I have a part of an apple here.  Would you like to try just one little bite?  (lion is scared) Come on, you can do it.

 

Lion:           (to self) Courage, Courage!  Okay, I’ll take a little bite.  Say, this tastes pretty good!

 

Scarecrow: Good job Lion!!!

 

Narrator:   So the four friends walked all day down the yellow brick road.  When they were hungry, they stopped and ate fruits, vegetables, and fresh milk.  Soon, the day turned to night and they decided to sleep. 

 

Milford:      (pops up) Do I have to sleep?

 

Tin Man:    Yes, you need to rest so that your body and mind can be in tip top shape for tomorrow.  Get to bed!!

 

Narrator:   The next morning, the friends awoke and saw a shiny castle in the distance.  It belonged to the Wizard!  The friends hurried down the road and knocked on the door and were delighted to finally meet the man who would help them.

 

Wizard:      Hello.  Can I help you?

 

Milford:      Oh, Wizard.  We thought that you could help us.  You see, the scarecrow needs to get a good thinking brain…

 

Wizard:      Ahhhh.  Say no more.  Scarecrow, my Sweet stuffed friend,  I think that you  have discovered the answer along your path.  You see, your thinker used to think clearly when you were eating a healthy breakfast everyday.  It gets your mind and body ready for the day.  Remember to include a rainbow of foods from the food guide pyramid in all your meals even breakfast!

 

Scarecrow: Let’s see if my breakfast helped me.  1 + 1 = 2 hmmmm!  Yes, I have noticed that since I have eaten something good for me this morning, my head seems stuffed with good stuff.

 

Tin Man:    Can you help me, Wizard?  I am looking for a strong heart.

 

Wizard:      Ahhhhhh… And that’s exactly one of the benefits that you will have, along with better sleep, more energy and stronger muscles.  You see, you have had the answer all along.  The key is… physical activity…running, jumping, playing, or just moving around.

 

Tin Man:    You know, I feel the best I have in years from walking and skipping down the yellow brick road.

 

Lion:           I suppose that you can’t help me find the courage to try new things.

 

Wizard:      Ahhhh, I can’t.  Because, you have already found the answer on your way to see me.  You see my furry friend, having the courage to try just a tiny taste of something new is the answer for you.  Remember the apple that you tried?  Your bravery caused you to like a new fruit. Foods from the pyramid will provide nutrients and help you become strong…courageous…the TRUE KING OF THE FOREST!

 

Lion:           ROAR!

 

Scarecrow: Wizard.  Can you help our little friend Milford?

 

Milford:      I didn’t see any finished homework assignments along the path of good health .  I’m sure that he doesn’t have anything for me.

 

Wizard:      Ahhhh.  But that’s not true.  The answers were along the path. Can you tell me about what you have learned.

 

 

Milford:      (Holds up fingers to list his new learning)

                   (Gets more and more excited with each point)

                   1)  Well I learned that we need to eat breakfast everyday so that we have a good start for the day and can think as good as the scarecrow.

                   2)  I learned from the Tin Man that our bodies need to move so that we have energy and strong muscles and heart. (I decided that instead of watching so much TV, I’m going to play outside and move around everyday.)

                   3)  The lion showed me that trying new foods doesn’t have to be scary.

                   4)  I learned that it is better for us to eat many different kinds of nutritious foods from the food pyramid.

                   5)  And that our bodies need plenty of sleep every.

 

Wizard:      Ahhhh.  You have all learned much on your journey!

 

Milford:      You sure are the Wizard of Ahhhhhhs.  Oh, thank you kind friend. (yawn)  I seem to be getting sleepy (yawn) again….

 

Narrator:   Once again things go a little cloudy for Milford… He drifted back into a dream about all the wonderful things he had learned on his journey. Suddenly…. Milford hears a familiar voice….

 

(Puppets down)   Display is taken down.  Dream scene walks by.

 

Scene:         Milford with his head down in his dinner. 

 

Mother:      Milford.  Wake up!  It’s time to eat your dinner, not wear it.

 

Milford:      Huh?  It was all a dream?  Mom!  Come here, quick.  I had the most incredible dream.  It was about the Wizard of Ahhhs…and I learned about the importance of breakfast, physical activity, trying new foods and even why I should go to bed at a reasonable hour.  Mom, I’m going to eat my dinner and then I’m going to write my paper on the path of good health.  Oh, can you wake me up a little earlier in the morning so I can take time to eat my breakfast? (leaves room)

 

 

Mom:          Sure honey.

 

Narrator:    And so Milford got an A on his assignment, but more importantly, he never forgot the lessons that he learned from his wonderful dream.

 

Rainbow at the end comes.

 

Mom:          Thank you, Wizard!

 

 

 

The End

 

Brought to you by LaCrosse WNEP Program

Written by Mary Hoeft-Leithold

Assisted by Kathy Gunderson

2002