| Preventing
Obesity Before It Begins
 In
previous PELINKS4U editorials we have identified an urgent need
for attention to be  directed
at the physical activity and nutrition habits of pre-school aged
children. Research has clearly shown that children who lag behind
in reading skills when entering kindergarten, typically continue
to struggle throughout the elementary grades. Why would we expect
anything else in regard to physical activity and nutrition behaviors?
By the time these children enter elementary school it is already
too late. It is hard to imagine how elementary physical educators
can do much to change these established behaviors in 2 to 3 PE lessons
a week. 
Somehow we have to get the parents of infants to establish appropriate
habitual physical activity and eating behaviors beginning at birth.
Waiting until problems develop is an absurd approach to addressing
the health challenges facing us as overweight and obesity levels
continue to increase.
One promising approach might be to replicate the solution to the
reading crisis created by the Kennewick, WA school district. Beginning
with pregnancy, parents are encouraged to read to their as yet unborn
children. Parents then leave the hospital with a gift pack of reading
and informational materials, and encouragement to read daily to
their newborn infants. The information is produced in English and
Spanish. The idea of course is to make reading a habitual activity
so that children do not get left behind and later face the uphill
battle of catching up.
What can elementary physical education teachers do? While it's
unrealistic to expect us to assume responsibility for preschool
aged children, we can perhaps do more to advocate for establishing
healthy habitual physical activity and nutrition habits earlier.
For example, we can offer advice to pre-schools in our community,
and even offer occasional instruction. Going further we could also
initiate a broader community wide Birth-School health promoting
program by soliciting the assistance of parents in our parent groups.
Certainly we can't, and shouldn't, attempt to do it alone, but parents,
doctors, and health insurance companies all stand to gain from preventing
the deterioration of youngsters' health.
As elementary physical educators we can also do more. In this month's
main page PELINKS4U editorial, several suggestions are offered for
ways to become school facilitators of physical activity, rather
than just PE teachers. It will require an adjustment to the typical
responsibilities assumed by elementary PE teachers. It will require
some negotiation with school administrators. And it may not be easy
to achieve. But what's the alternative?
Student health is clearly getting worse. Teachers can anticipate
more and more health-impaired students in their classes if the slide
is not stopped. If our goal is to share with our students the joy
of movement, and the fun of engaging in health promoting physical
activity, we have to ensure that the students in our schools are
physically ready to learn.
We begin this month's Elementary Section with just one of the programs
available to promote physical activity to pre-school children.
Steve Jefferies, Publisher
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| Promoting
Movement Programs for Ages 3-5
In this 20 page PDF document, NASPE
authors note an increased interest in physical education for young,
pre-school aged children. Supporting the value of getting youngsters
to become more physically active are those educators who believe
there to be a positive connection between brain development and
movement. The authors note:
"These early years have been identified as the critical period
in which building blocks for all future development are formed."
While the document does not provide specific activity material,
it does outline guidelines for developmentally appropriate practices.
As we are all aware, left to their own imagination well intentioned,
but untrained physical activity facilitators, tend to implement
the very physical activities and practices that PE teachers are
now attempting to avoid.
This document would be a great resource for any PE teacher motivated
to share physical activity advice with pre-school educators.
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MrGym.com
- One of the claims often made by physical educators is that our
activities help students to develop cooperative skills. Unfortunately,
there is little solid evidence to support this claim. While many
of the games and sports our students engage in offer the potential
for developing cooperation, there's always a need for close adult
supervision and guidance. And of course, some activities are better
suited than others if cooperation is our primary goal.
MrGym.com
includes comprehensive descriptions of many activities that clearly
have great potential to challenge the cooperative skills of your
students. The best part about these descriptions is that they are
written by someone who has tested the activities and offers insights
as to what does and doesn't work. Before planning to use any of
these activities, be sure to first read the description and check
that you have the necessary equipment.
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I'm going on spring break next week. One of my spring break goals is to look into yoga. I've never done it, but am interested in learning and possibly teaching it in my elementary classes? Has anyone done this and if so suggestions would be appreciated. I teach K-5th graders. Please post in the forum. |
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| Maintaining
Recess in Elementary Schools
Almost daily, reports appear about
schools planning to cut back on recess as a way to address academic
challenges. Pressed by increasing demands for improved academic
performance it's easy to understand why school administrators
are motivated to create more classroom time. Unfortunately, because
it's school administrators who are primarily responsible for ensuring
that elementary children receive or do not receive recess time,
recess is an easy target to eliminate. And by eliminating recess,
administrators are of course conveniently able to prove their
commitment to improving academics.
Unfortunately, as we all know - at
least in our hearts - the elimination or reduction of recess is
counterproductive. Spending longer on something is a simplistic
approach to raising student performance. Ironically, it's probably
only in PE, and more specifically in fitness promotion, that we
can say with some certainty that time is indeed directly related
to the benefits. Elsewhere, we know that it's how time is used,
rather than how much time is available, that mostly impacts learning.
Sitting young students for longer is
not a solution to the academic crisis. As Arizona State Professor
Chuck Corbin once noted, increased seat time simply turns happy
puppies into old dogs! Kids, like adults, need breaks. And young
kids need physical activity during these breaks.
PE teachers need to be at the forefront
of attempts to reduce or eliminate recess. It's not just about
health promotion, but about efficient learning. Fortunately, if
you face this challenge NASPE has created a document
with key points that need to be emphasized. Although the document
is currently being revised, this current position paper should
prove useful in defending attempts to remove recess.
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"Log
It" Physical Activity Program
Offered by PE Central and PELINKS4U Site Sponsor New Lifestyles,
Log It is a program that allows elementary-aged students
to log their individual physical activity steps & miles online.
Accessed through the PE Central web site, this program helps to
motivate students to become, and remain physically active. In addition
to recording their steps or miles, they can participate in a virtual
hike across the USA with their class, be involved in class competitions
vs. other classes, set daily goals, view their own personal step
log, and compare their steps with other kids of the same age and
gender.
Teachers can register their schools online, and view the progress
their students are making toward the physical activity goals they
have set. Teachers can also print achievement certificates for their
students directly from the Log It web site.
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| Run
to Read and Write
The Run to Read and Write program was designed to help young children
with literacy. Because children naturally love to run, this program
promotes reading and writing about running as a way to encourage
young children to 'want' to read and write.
Charting activities, while working for a goal of a RED
RIBBON, also motivates the runner/writer/reader. In addition,
the program gives children, who have already discovered a love for
literacy, a chance to be published and a means to be recognized.
The program offers a variety of printable resources that physical
educators can use to support their running program. |
Plan NOW
to Participate in Project
ACES - Wednesday, May 6, 2006.
"The World's Largest Exercise Class" Project ACES (All
Children Exercise Simultaneously) takes place on the first Wednesday
in May as part of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month along
with National Physical Education Week. It has been labeled as "the
world's largest exercise class" by the media.
Since 1989, millions of children from all over the world exercise
together to promote proper health and fitness habits. Created by
Len Saunders, there are now Project ACES coordinators in many states
willing to help you set up your own school event. Visit the ACES
web site for downloadable materials to help with your planning,
as well as certificates and press releases. |
If
you have ideas, comments, letters to share, or questions about particular
topics, please email one of the following Elementary PE Section Editors:
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| A
Time Capsule for All Occasions! - contributed by
Anjee Roth
Many things occur as we come into the
New Year; colder weather (in most parts of the country), remembering
to write the year 2006, and many resolutions! So what can you
do in your classroom to remember the year 2005 and look forward
to 2006? Why not do a time capsule project?
Have each child in your class write a
story, or bring something of significance that they can contribute
to the time capsule. Have the child then say a little about the
item they brought. Then you can have the class go on a hike, or
a walk, depending on where you want to put the capsule. If you
are worried about someone taking it, or not finding it again if
you bury it outside, then there are some options.
For example, you can go on a hike and
make a pretend treasure map that will show where the capsule is
"hidden." Then you can keep the actual capsule in the
school or at your home. This activity can be a lot of fun, especially
as the years go by. Depending on the age, you can open the capsule
the next year or even 5 years later.
This activity is close to my heart, as
my own sixth grade teacher had our class write a letter to our
"older" selves. We were to write about what we thought
we would be doing, and what we would be like, when we graduated
from high school. Then our entire class put them in a "time
capsule."
When I graduated from high school I
received the letter I had written almost 7 years earlier from
my sixth grade teacher in the mail. I had forgotten all about
it, but it made for an amazing time of remembering how young I
was, and all I had accomplished since. It was so much fun! Here
are some other websites and resources if you are interested in
this idea!
This is an in-depth look at Kings Park
Elementary's second grade time
capsule project! It offers an introduction, tasks, process,
opportunities for sharing, and assessment.
Check out another school's time
capsule project for some ideas!
Here is another idea from Familyfun.com
that offers more information on time
capsules for families!
This site offers information on how to
do virtual time
capsules!
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| Read
& Run Marathon
In conjunction with the St. Louis Marathon, the Read & Run
Marathon for children between the ages of 6 through 12 promotes
both physical and intellectual fitness. Participants are challenged
to log 26 books and 25 miles over a six month period. The program
culminates on marathon morning, when the children run their final
1.2 miles across the "official" finish line. They also
collect books for distribution to a local literacy program. The
program encourages Special Olympic Athletes to participate in
a modified version of the event.
Read 239 other
good ideas from 239 cities. Start your own!
For the older kids - /run
resource for geeks who run (and more). This is a pretty interesting
site. There are quite a few broken links, but still a lot of great
information.
Preschool
Interactive Exercises - This site offers fun ways for preschoolers
to get interactive exercise.
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The Violence-Fitness Relationship in Children
- Everyone knows that exercise is good for
a child's physical well-being. But what about the brain? Can regular
structured exercise help children's brains too? Some experts say
"Yes". And, point to research that indicates exercise
can do a lot more than keep the brain in working order. It can
curb violent tendencies, effect impulse control and shape the
way children's brains grow. Read the rest...
Children's
Fitness Myths - You've probably read all kinds of fitness
myths related to adults - no pain, no gain, stay in your target
heart rate range to burn more calories, weights make you bulk
up, etc., etc. But, how much do you know about children's health?
Heart
Healthy Activities for Young Children - If you're looking
for some fun fitness activities you can do with small children
try these. All are exciting for children, build heart health and
will make you laugh too.
Children's
Physical Fitness - If you run dry on fun activities to do
with your child, or just want to try something absolutely fun
and new, ABC Home Preschool has a wealth of great information
and games. The games are very active, while being educational.
Great site!
Physical
Activity at Preschool - Read what Dr. Greene has to say about
the level of activity found in preschools.
Your
Child's Brain: The Crucial First Years - Learn how important
the first 3 years are to your child's brain development.
Your
Child's Brain - Although this article is a bit scientific,
the information is so good you'll find yourself reading the whole
things.
The
Human Brain - If you've read the above articles you realize
how extreme a small child's mind is forming during the first few
years. Now, read how exercise helps evolve the brain, raising
IQ levels.
Brain
Function and Exercise - Can you have better brain function
with exercise? Find out.
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