For the classroom teacher: Physical activity and health Being physically active has many health benefits and it s fun, too! Regular physical activity in childhood and adolescence improves strength and endurance, helps build healthy bones and muscles, helps control weight, reduces anxiety and stress, and may improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Physically active and fit children also tend to perform better academically. Establishing an active lifestyle early in life is important because kids who grow up being physically active tend to stay active as adults and staying active can help reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Unfortunately, many kids do not meet the minimum physical activity recommendations. There are a number of reasons for this: Not enough safe, affordable places to play in neighborhoods and community designs that lack sidewalks, bike lanes, parks, and green space Reductions in physical education requirements in schools Competition from more sedentary activities, such as playing video games, watching television, or using a computer Physically active lifestyles can benefit your students, your school, and your community. So take steps toward better health by being more physically active each day! Did you know? Getting enough physical activity is also important for maintaining a healthy weight. Too many American kids are sedentary, and this has helped make many kids overweight or obese. The combination of excess pounds and too little exercise is putting youth at risk for serious health problems as they get older. The following statistics show just how serious this problem is: In 2009, 37% of US youth reported being physically active for at least 60 minutes on more than 5 days per week. 1 Only 33% of youth attended physical education classes daily in 2009, and only 56% had physical education class at least once a week. 1 Increasing the amount of time students spend in physical education increases activity and fitness levels and may reduce body mass index (BMI). 2 More time spent in physical activity does not negatively impact academic performance and may improve it. In 2009, almost 25% of youth played video or computer games or used a computer for something other than school work for 3 or more hours on an average school day. 1 Approximately 1 out of every 3 school-age children is either obese or overweight. 3 Obese children are more likely to become obese adults. 4 Overall, about 1 in every 8 young people is obese, and 1 in 6 is overweight. 5 The prevalence of weight problems in children ages 6 to 11 has tripled in the past 30 years and has more than tripled among adolescents ages 12 to 19. 6
American Cancer Society Guidelines for Physical Activity Parents and schools can help kids be physically active by keeping in mind the American Cancer Society s guidelines for physical activity: Children should get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity on 5 or more days each week. Adults should get at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity, above usual activities, on 5 or more days each week. Moderate physical activity includes walking, skating, or dancing, and sports such as baseball, badminton, doubles tennis, or golf. Vigorous activities include jogging and running, swimming, martial arts, jumping rope, and sports like soccer, hockey, singles tennis, and basketball. Physical activity and academic performance Despite the fact that physical activity is good for health and wellness, fewer than 1 out of 5 elementary schools provide daily physical education. 7 Budgetary constraints and increasing pressure to improve standardized test scores have caused many school administrators to question the value of physical education and other physical activity programs. The result? Substantial reductions in the time available for physical education and unstructured recess. In some cases, school-based physical activity programs have been completely eliminated. However, the research on the relationship between physical activity and academic performance suggests the following: Cutting physical education for classroom time does not improve academic performance. Studies show that students whose time in PE or other physical activity at school was increased, maintained or improved their grades and standardized achievements test scores, even though they received less instructional class time than students in control groups. Kids who are more physically active tend to perform better academically. Many studies have found that regular participation in physical activity is associated with improved academic performance. Short activity breaks throughout the day can improve students concentration skills and classroom behavior. Studies have shown better on-task behavior and overall improved behavior when students were given regular brief activity breaks throughout the day.
Teaching your students about physical activity The classroom activity sheets included in this folder support the following learning objectives: Students will learn how much physical activity is recommended for kids. Students will identify ways to be more active throughout the day. Students will identify ways to make schools, neighborhoods, and households more conducive to physical activity. Classroom activities Grades K-3: My Favorite Physical Activity Coloring Page Grades 2-5: Jumping Rope Is a Great Exercise! Math Activity Nutrition and Physical Tracking Sheets Grades 2-6: Nutrition and Physical Activity Word Search (NOTE: This activity also appears in the Nutrition section.) Grades 2-6: Running Laps Math Activity Grades 3-6: Just Move it! Physical Activity Checklist Grades 4-6: Go for the Goal! Physical Activity Tracker Grades 5-6: Dave Loves to Run! Math Activity Electronic copies of these activities are available online at RelayRecess.org. All kit materials may be reproduced for classroom use. Additional materials Physical Activities A Family Affair Information Sheet This information sheet is designed to alert and motivate parents and caregivers to get active for themselves and for their families. Physical Fitness Activities for Your Relay Recess Event Information Sheet This information sheet gives suggested activities to highlight physical activity information at your event. Resources 1 Source: YRBS US, 2009; www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/ss/ss5905.pdf 2 Source: CDC Community Guide to Preventive Services 2002 3 Source: Ogden et al. Prevalence of High Body Mass Index in US Children and Adolescents, 2007-2008. JAMA. 2010;303:242-249. 4 Source: CDC Basics About Childhood Obesity; www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/basics.html 5 Source: MMWR 2010; www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5905a1.htm 6 Source: CDC Healthy Youth, Childhood Obesity; www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/index.htm 7 Source: NCES; nces.ed.gov/pubs2006/nutrition/tables/tab16.asp 2011, American Cancer Society, Inc.
My Favorite Physical Activity Coloring Page Draw a picture of yourself doing your favorite physical activity. I like to because
Jumping Rope Is a Great Exercise! Math Activity At her Relay Recess event, Hannah entered a jumping rope competition. She won by jumping rope 30 times in one minute. 1. How many times can she jump in 5 minutes? 2. How many times can she jump in 7 minutes? 3. How many times can she jump in 12 minutes and 30 seconds? 4. How many times can she jump in 48 seconds? 5. How many times can she jump in 3 minutes and 12 seconds? 6. Time yourself jumping rope for 1 minute. How many jumps? 7. How many jumps could you do in 5 minutes?
Nutrition and Physical Activity Word Search Eating right and being active work together to make healthy bodies. Build your healthy body by eating different kinds of foods and being active each day. Can you find these healthful foods and activities hidden in the word search below? Word List: Apple Bike Broccoli Dance Carrot Run Orange Swim Strawberry Walk B Q S F O R A N G E R I H I D N V I E K W U K L A W N I E D Z I N E D N A K J I J Q H A J B R O C C O L I C V K M D U E Q P K F A L E S T R A W B E R R Y R Q W R O L D C X R P D Y A I I K G A J O M N L L E M V I A N T I D I K B R N C D A C K I A P P L E D Q K L E
Running Laps Math Activity 12 inches = 1 foot 3 feet = 1 yard 5,280 feet = 1 mile 4 laps = 1 mile 1. How many inches are in 1 yard? 2. If you run 2 miles, how many laps did you run? 3. If you run 2 miles, how many feet did you run? 4. If you run 6 laps, how many feet did you run? 5. How many yards are in 1 mile?
Just Move It! Physical Activity Checklist Television. Computers. Video games. These things may be fun, but when you re using them, you re usually not getting much physical activity. The good news is that there are lots of fun ways to be more active each day. Set a goal to be active for at least 60 minutes 5 or more days of the week. You can do that all at once, or break the time up during the day. That could mean 20 minutes of being active in PE class, 20 minutes of playing soccer after school, and a 20-minute walk or bike ride after dinner. (Don t forget to do your homework!) Think about doing different types of activities that help stretch and strengthen your muscles, build your bones, and give your heart a good workout. Stretch and strengthen your muscles! Touch your toes, reach your arms high above your head, or do sit-ups, push-ups, and pull-ups. These help keep your muscles firm and strong and help keep your body flexible. Build your bones! Walk, jog, dance, ride your bike, lift weights, or climb the stairs. These are called weightbearing exercises, and they help you build and keep strong, healthy bones. Give your heart a good workout! Aerobic exercise helps keep your heart healthy. Activities like running, roller blading, jumping rope, and swimming are good ways to get aerobic exercise. These are just a few of the activities that give you an aerobic workout and strengthen your heart and lungs, too. Let s exercise your brain by answering the following questions: 1. How much time should you spend being physically active each day? 2. True or false: Some types of exercise can help you build strong bones. 3. True or false: Exercise helps keep your heart healthy. 4. 2 ways to stretch your muscles. 5. List ways you could be physically active for 60 minutes each day. Write down your favorite activities and how long you would need to do them to add up to 60 minutes. Activity Time 1. 2. 3. Total Time = 60 Minutes
Go for the Goal! Physical Activity Tracker Being active for at least 60 minutes 5 or more days of the week is good for you and can be lots of fun too! Think about all the ways you like to be active, and set a goal to increase how much physical activity you do 5 or more days of the week. Use this sheet to write down your goal and how much activity you do each day. Then answer the questions below. My goal: How I did: Day 1: Day 2: Day 3: Day 4: Day 5: Day 6: Day 7: Did I meet my goal? If I didn t meet my goal, what things got in my way of not being as active as I wanted? What could I do differently the next time to meet my goal? What was the best part about setting a goal to be more active each day?
Dave Loves to Run! Math Activity 1. Dave can run 1 lap in 3 minutes. How long will it take to run 4 laps? 2. If Dave runs the first lap in 2 minutes, the second lap in 2½ minutes, the third lap in 3 minutes, and the fourth lap in 4 minutes, how long did it take to run the 4 laps? 3. How much slower was his last lap than his first lap? 4. If Dave ran every lap 30 seconds faster, how long would it take him to run the 4 laps?
For parents: Physical activity A family affair Being active as a family has great rewards not only can being active together help make your whole family healthier, it can give you some wonderful quality time together. Here are some ideas to get you started: Go for a walk after dinner. Set a no or not too much TV time rule during the week; encourage outdoor activity instead. When you do watch TV, make it a family rule to do something active during commercials, such as sit ups, squats, or jumping jacks. Walk wherever you can, whenever you can: to the store for a few items, to the library, to a neighborhood restaurant, to the dry cleaner. Spend active time together on the weekends. Go for a hike or a bike ride or play tennis. Keep track of your activity. Keep a calendar and write down what activity you do as a family. Start a contest to see who has the most activity each week. Take active vacations: Go on a bike tour or a camping trip where you hike to your campsite. Get in the habit of parking your car as far as you can from the front door of the grocery store, mall, library, restaurant, or school. Extra steps add up! Give gifts that encourage physical activity, such as: Bikes, skateboards, and scooters Balls, bats, and racquets Tennis shoes or workout clothes Gift cards for athletic stores to purchase athletic equipment
Physical activities at your Relay Recess event Have a band (or a good CD player and sound system) and get people dancing. Count your laps! As students complete each lap, give them a paper clip so that they can make a chain. At the end of the Relay Recess event, they will have a chain of paper clips to commemorate their laps. Have an aerobics class. Check with local universities, YMCAs, or athletic clubs for some volunteer instructors. Set up volleyball or badminton nets and equipment. Provide balls, hacky sacks, Frisbees, croquet, or bocci balls for people to play with when they aren t walking. Organize active games like freeze tag, hide and seek, red rover, or kickball. Have activity-based contests: Who can do the most jumping jacks without stopping Who can do the most push-ups Pass out awards to: People playing Frisbee, volleyball, walking extra laps, etc. Adults playing games with kids Announce special laps, and invite the following groups to take a lap: Any PE instructors, exercise leaders, or fitness trainers Anyone who tries to get in physical activity 5 or more days a week Anyone who regularly takes the stairs instead of the elevator Anyone who works out with a friend or family member Anyone who gets up early to work out Any kids who take PE class Any kids who would rather ride their bike/roller blade/play outside than watch TV Have ongoing announcements throughout the Relay recess event geared toward adults, such as: Be active for at least 30 minutes 5 or more days each week! Get up get moving have fun! Add more physical activity to your day! Try: Taking a family walk after dinner Riding your bike Playing with your kids Dancing and skipping Parking your car further from your office Taking the stairs Joining your Relay Recess team for walk breaks during the day
Answer Key Jumping Rope Is a Great Exercise! Math Activity 1. 150 times 2. 210 times 3. 375 times 4. 24 times 5. 96 times Nutrition and Physical Activity Word Search Running Laps Math Activity 1. 36 inches 2. 8 laps 3. 10,560 feet 4. 7,920 feet 5. 1,760 yards Dave Loves to Run! Math Activity 1. 12 minutes 2. 11 1/2 minutes 3. 2 minutes 4. 9 1/2 minutes