As
the holiday season quickly approaches we are challenged to
keep our students actively exercising as the weather turns
colder. Yet, let's be honest, kids are pretty tough so I'm
convinced we can still promote outdoor exercise with a bit
of caution.
Walking, Running, and Racing for a Good Cause
The holiday season and end of the calendar year also provides
a chance to reflect upon our professional lives, and the message
of good health we hope to instill in our students. I find
myself increasingly impressed with teachers who help students
both improve their own health, but also see the role we can
all play in helping others less fortunate.
One of the physical educators at my son's middle school,
Janyne Mathena, has formed a team of parents, teachers, and
middle school students to participate in a Jingle Bell Run/Walk
this December to raise funds and awareness for arthritis.
Similarly, Bill Pratt, a physical education teacher in Roanoke,
Virginia is also preparing his students for the Jingle Bell
Run/Walk by following a walking and running program he designed
with help from a grant from the financial
services company ING and the National
Association for Sport and Physical Education.
While it might be a bit late to get your classes started
on a walking and running program for an event this December,
a spring 5K run and/or 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk is pretty reasonable.
The Susan G. Komen Race
for the Cure Series supporting education and research
with breast cancer has over 140 races in four continents with
over 1.6 million participants worldwide. Ms. Mathena mentioned
above is also organizing a school-wide for this even in April
2012.
Fitness walking and running clubs are increasingly popular
before or after school activities, which help prepare students
for events such as those mentioned above. Our national association,
NASPE, has sample distance logs and 8 week sample
training programs available. One fun approach to training
and being a part of a big marathon is the Kid’s
Marathon in Oklahoma City which is part of the Oklahoma
City Memorial Marathon in late April. Students are encouraged
to sign up as part of a school group, or just as individuals
in the early spring when they return from their holiday break.
Each student keeps track of logging 25 miles during the spring
prior to the marathon on special log sheets in which a parent
or teacher verifies each mile walked or ran. Finally on the
day of the race the students report to a special start area
1.2 mile from the marathon finish where they begin their last
run finishing a “real” marathon over the course
of several months.
One example of a walking
program
Moving Outside to Learn
The use of walking or hiking outside is often associated with
a healthy lifestyle. Middle and high school students can benefit
from a cross-curricular approach advocated by physical educator,
Mike Miller, from Shawsville Middle School. Mike worked with
classroom teachers to design a project that incorporated hiking
with history, geography, nutrition, first aid, and science.
Inspired by the book, "A
Walk Across America," by Peter Jenkins in which
Jenkins details his journey on foot across the United States
back in the 1970s, the teachers wanted their students to connect
with both the physical toil of walking hundreds and thousands
of miles, but also the rich history and myriad of cultures
found throughout our diverse country.
To help his students prepare for the physical toil, Mike
determined the appropriate levels of fitness needed for simulated
hikes over both hilly and flat terrain. Baseline measures
included 400-meter walks with 25-pound backpacks on both a
track and hills that surround the school. Maps of theoretical
routes were posted from Virginia to California with historical
sites aligned along the routes. Mike further helped them prepare
for their simulated walk with some consumer education of purchasing
backpacks, tents, and other camping equipment. In addition,
the students learned about proper nutrition and hydration
demands when attempting such a hike. Finally, general first
aid considerations from sprained ankles to exhaustion and
muscle cramps were discussed.
The middle school youngsters walked during PE class, and
were also allowed to catalog walking miles outside of school
to determine how long it would take them to traverse the country
traveling between historical sites. Classroom teachers focused
on writing assignments that prompted research when students
reached the historical sites. One of the best endorsements
came from the principal himself who noted, "A lot of
times I will have a student ask me, 'Why do I have to know
that? I'll never use that,' but a project
like this will help them see the value of things they
learn outside the classroom."
Concluding Thoughts
As we move into winter months and the end of the calendar
year, I encourage you to take a look at offering your students
a chance to move outside for a good cause.
As
the holiday season quickly approaches we are challenged to
keep our students actively exercising as the weather turns
colder. Yet, let's be honest, kids are pretty tough so I'm
convinced we can still promote outdoor exercise with a bit
of caution. 