Teaching Activity: The Big Breakfast (Network Analysis)

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.