I first heard about the contest from my school administrators when they forwarded on an email with the information. I may have seen it online, too, but I thought we were already doing things at O’Neill Elementary that might double as a good content entry if we were to share them in the form of a video. Most of what I have learned about the Recess Rocks program has come along since being announced a winner. They have had a statewide organization since 2003 and just this last year launched the national campaign called Recess Rocks to try and prevent childhood obesity. They offer curriculum materials online for free encouraging teachers in both the classroom and the gym to incorporate fun movement and dance activities. So the video contest was to get the word out about their organization and it offered prizes in both group and individual categories for three age divisions.
This all began with a desire for my students to get more active. I realize the growing crisis of sedentary lifestyles in our country’s youth. Research proves that fit children have significantly larger brains. And yet, schools across our country are threatening to cut back on physical education programs in hopes of raising test scores. This is counterproductive, in my mind. I have an already limited amount of time that I get to spend with students as I teach nearly 400 students every two days and I didn’t want to take away any more movement time within class to teach health concepts. So I decided to use Challenge Based Learning to engage my students into truly doing something about their health habits. I had used Challenge Based Learning during the previous school year with the PEPCO group (Physical Education Production Company) and saw how when you challenge students and put learning in their hands they can really make it their own and take it further than being solely teacher-directed. In addition, I have found that using technology in P.E. class also engages students and allows me to more productively use my time. So, at the beginning of this school year I brainstormed with my wife, the technology integration specialist in our district, and we came up with the Healthier Habits Challenge. The basic premise is that students go home, discuss with their families their current health habits both good and bad, choose one unhealthy habit to change, create a solution for doing so, and implement that plan with their entire family for four weeks. All students then gave a presentation to the rest of the 5th graders about the overall results of their challenge. So the video entry for Recess Rocks was a class compilation of the highlights of the first group of 5th graders to do this project.
Every fifth grade student shared their solution, but in varying ways- some with videos, some with posters, some with reports, photoessays, etc., etc. My wife came over from the HS and video interviewed the kids. Together we wrote a script and the students in Mrs. Kloppenborg’s homeroom all helped produce it along with the highlights from the project. Since we
This is my third year teaching Elementary P.E. at O’Neill Elementary. In that time, I have wanted to change the misconception that P.E. is just for athletes or just glorified recess. Physical education of today needs to focus on lifelong fitness as well as educating the whole body and mind of each and every child. Starting at a young age, students need to understand that physical activity is something that needs to be practiced for a lifetime. Technology is often blamed for being a large part of today’s obesity epidemic-- contributing to kids’ sedentary lifestyles. However, my goal is to show how the opposite can be true-- that technology can be part of the solution. I use technology in my physical education classes in a variety of ways. I create interactive audio and video podcasts, which when projected throughout the gym, lead students in a variety of creative movement activities. Music is incorporated throughout nearly every activity. I have used iPod touch devices with students using fitness apps as well as self-created scavenger hunts. These activities allow students to get ample exercise as well other critical communication and collaboration skills. Students in my classes have created videos demonstrating skills and encouraging their peers to stay fit. Pedometers along with Google maps and Blogger motivate kids to move more while they are in class. Finally my website shares all the learning outside of the classroom and helps us connect with others doing similar things around the world.
Families have shared positive feedback with me about my P.E. curriculum and especially about the Healthier Habits Challenge. Parents said that they were more apt to participate since the students were driving the change at home. One family turned off the cable TV for the duration of the challenge and the student and his siblings got outside and played more- proving success. Other families changed snack habits, planned healthier meals together, earlier bedtimes, more exercise, and even better dental habits, to name a few. Even though the challenge assignment ended after four weeks, many many students continue to talk about their families health habits and their solutions.
PEPCO started two years ago. Several teams of students met before and after school and during lunch to work on various projects promoting fitness to their peers. Some previous student projects include a student-produced website with how-to videos, a student-directed skit at an all-school assembly, and a student-led exercise group open to any 3-6 grade students who choose to come to the before-school sessions. This year, PEPCO is led by about a half-dozen 6th graders and approximately 20-30 students attend the twice a week before school exercise sessions. The PEPCO kids plan the sessions and lead their peers in stretching, exercises, and games to encourage fitness.
Kim led the P.E. classes on Monday through a variety of Recess Rocks “Celebration” activities. These promoted whole body movement (encompassing flexibility, muscular strength, and coordination) and utilized brain gym activities as well as dance. Brain gym means that different parts of your body cross your body’s midline which stimulates both hemispheres of your brain which is good for learning. Students enjoyed the fun of these activities and the moves that incorporated music. Kim presented the big check to the 5th grade class at an all school assembly at 1:00 and then had an additional “celebration” class with those students following the assembly. Emily was also honored at the assembly for her 2nd place finish in the individual competition for her PEPCO video. She had received her prize, a Wii and Wii Fit Plus, in the mail. The $2,500.00 prize will most likely be used to purchase additional equipment and materials to further develop my P.E. program.
