Real Food Rules Podcast
Real Food Songwriting is a podcast series from the STEAM Fund that showcases original songs written and performed by students through our hands-on Real Food Songwriting Program. In classrooms and communities, students collaborate to create music and lyrics around themes of nutrition, wellness, and making healthy choices—turning learning into creativity you can hear. Each episode features a student-created song that reflects their voices, ideas, and growth through the program. New episodes are released weekly, highlighting the power of music, education, and real food to inspire positive change. If you’re interested in bringing the Real Food Songwriting Program to your school or community, contact info@steamfund.org
Real Food Rules Podcast
Exercise Makes My Heart Go Boom - Mrs. Ahnstrom & Mrs. Hendrickson's 5th Grade Class at Sullivan West Elementary School
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
What happens when 5th graders learn about nutrition and get to write their own music?
In the winter of 2026, students at Sullivan West Elementary School in Jeffersonville, NY partnered with STEAM teaching artists Beth & Scott Bierko to explore wellness, physical activity, and healthy habits—and transformed what they learned into an energetic, original song about movement, consistency, and keeping their hearts strong.
Through the Real Food Songwriting Program, students connected physical health, creativity, and teamwork while meeting learning goals across science, health, language arts, and music. The program’s hands-on, joyful approach helps students remember positive habits long after the final chorus fades.
🎤 Song: “Exercise Makes My Heart Go Boom” - Written and performed by Mrs. Ahnstrom and Mrs. Hendrickson’s 5th Grade Classes
From skiing and climbing to dancing and jumping, this high-energy performance celebrates staying active and keeping your heart in a healthy zone—so press play and feel the beat of healthy living! ❤️🏃♀️🎵
This project was made possible by the generous support of:
• The Rowley Family Foundation
• The Bonacic Family Foundation
• Sullivan County Discretionary Fund
• 98.3 WSUL Heart-A-Thon
Interested in bringing this engaging, student-centered program to your school or district? Visit steamfund.org and contact Gary Siegel to learn how The Real Food Songwriting Program can work for your school and community.
Special thanks to everyone at Sullivan West Elementary School and our friends at A Single Bite for making this experience so meaningful!