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Teaching Activity: The Big Breakfast (Network Analysis)

Last updated 23 Jul 2024

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The Big Breakfast is an engaging starter activity that is best used to introduce the concept of network analysis (critical path analysis).

The activity involves reading out a short story about making breakfast on a Saturday morning; students then need to work out the quickest time that the whole process can be completed!

The activity can also be used as a bellwork activity with the ‘story’ being on the board as students enter the lesson and a PowerPoint slide of the story has also been provided.

It is a useful way to introduce network analysis as many students simply add up the timings of all the different stages/ activities without considering which stages/ activities can be completed simultaneously.

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