-Five Ways
Five Ways Overview1: Improve Food Available at School 2: Increase Physical Activity 3: Teach Good Nutrition 4: Encourage Staff Wellness 5: Engage Parents
-Long-Term Success
Success Overview Create a Wellness TeamAssess Your Program Develop a Wellness Plan Implement the Wellness Plan Evaluate Progress Celebrate Success
-Resources and Tools
Resources Overview Organizations and Links Documents and Resources Bonus Tip Sheets
-Partners
Partners Overview Healthy Schools Campaign National Association of School Nurses School Health Corporation Project Supporters Authors and Acknowledgements Copyright and Usage Information

2. Increase Physical Activity

Helping students become more physically active is an essential part of a school wellness program. Exercise is one of the most potent weapons against increasing rates of childhood obesity and related diseases, particularly when combined with good nutrition.  The American Heart Association recommends that, in addition to eating only enough calories to maintain a healthy weight, children should be physically active for 60 minutes per day.  Schools can and should promote physical fitness and active lifestyles, for a number of reasons:

  • Studies show that children are more attentive if allowed to have a break for physical activity.

    According to Montana Team Nutrition Program,  those who have recess before lunch eat better, waste less food and drink more milk.
    • Has learned skills necessary to perform a variety of physical activities,
    • Participates regularly in physical activity,
    • Knows the implications of and the benefits from involvement in physical activities,
    • Values physical activity and its contribution to a healthful lifestyle.

Challenges

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Studies show that as a result of our sedentary lifestyles (television, video games, driving instead of walking, etc.), fewer than 25% of American children get at least 30 minutes of any type of physical activity every day. Only about 6-8% of schools nationally provide students with daily physical education.

A 2003 CDC study found that a little over half of all high school students were enrolled in a PE class, only about 30% attended PE class daily, and only about 40% of them were physically active during PE class. Cutbacks in recess, before- and after-school programs and safety-based limitations on such simple activities as riding bikes or walking to school contribute to the problem. Schools also cite competing academic priorities or lack of space, staffing and funding as the primary barriers to physical activity.

Guidelines

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There are no federal standards for physical education, although, there are a number of authoritative Guidelines available to help.  You should also check for applicable state laws, guidelines or policies.  The Healthy Schools Campaign recommends that schools adopt the recommendations developed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which are the basis for a model policy promoted by the National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity (NANA). See Documents and Resources to download a copy of the NANA model wellness policy.  NANA's CDC-based recommendations for physical education and activity are summarized below:

  • Students in grades pre-K — 12 participate in daily standards-based physical education, which is consistent with state/district standards/guidelines/framework and is coordinated within a comprehensive health education curriculum.
  • All students participate in daily physical education (elementary 150 minutes/week, middle and high school 225 minutes/week).
  • Elementary students have daily supervised recess.
  • Physical activities are available to students through a range of before and after-school programs.
  • The physical education program actively engages families as partners in providing physical activity beyond the school day.

The National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS) is a nonprofit organization which leads research, training and development aimed at making play areas safe for children. NPPS hosts a comprehensive database of information on outdoor play areas and safety. Read more about playground safety and online training programs at the NPPS website.

Guiding Principles

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(Click on any of the items listed below to read more)

Put PE on par with academic subjects

Schools have come under increasing pressure to improve student academic achievement under the “No Child Left Behind” Act and other initiatives. Consequently, the amount of time in the school day made available for physical fitness has diminished. Your wellness program offers an opportunity to put Physical Education back on par with academic subjects and show that it in fact supports the school's achievement goals by increasing students’ readiness and ability to learn.  See Documents and Resources for some suggestions.

Encourage students to move outside PE class

For students to receive the nationally-recommended amount of daily physical activity and to fully embrace regular physical activity as a personal behavior, they need opportunities to move outside PE class.  Classroom health education can complement physical education by reinforcing the knowledge and self-management skills needed to maintain a physically-active lifestyle and to reduce time spent on sedentary activities, such as watching television. Opportunities for physical activity can also be incorporated into other subject areas. See our Bonus Tip Sheet on Creating A Physically Active Classroom Atmosphere and visit Documents and Resources for more information.

Space: The Final Frontier

PE and other physical activities require space for students to move around, work out, play games, store sports equipment, etc. Some schools, particularly those in older urban communities, may be significantly lacking in this area. Your efforts to improve physical activity may require the development of community partnerships and other creative approaches.  See FAQ's for suggestions.

Funding is critical

Funding limitations can hamper your best intentions, preventing you from hiring or training staff or acquiring needed equipment. See Programs & Grants for suggested resources.

Address the Total Environment

To make lasting changes, it is important to gain support from school stakeholders as well as commitment from the school and/or district by bringing them in from the very beginning. Assembling a wellness team (see Who's Who in School Wellness), conducting an assessment of your current program, developing a wellness plan, measuring progress and celebrating success are important steps in this process. For detailed guidance and tools in this area, see Long-Term Success.

Action Areas

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(Click on any of the items listed below to read more)

Physical Education

Many schools lack a formal, written curriculum to help identify goals and meet recommended standards for PE and physical activity during the school day. In order to move toward a better PE program, evaluate your PE curriculum to see if your school has established clear, consistent, written goals. You should also identify and eliminate any practices that reduce PE time, such as pulling students out of PE for extra academic work or using PE as a punishment.

The CDC has developed the School Health Index, a useful tool to help you assess and plan your school's health and safety policies and programs, as well as the PECAT [pdf], a PE curriculum assessment tool, both of which can be accessed online. See Documents and Resources for links to these and other assessment tools.

PHYSICAL FITNESS CASE STUDY

After realizing its PE program was inconsistent, the North Cow Creek Elementary School District (CA) embarked on a two-year improvement effort (from 2003 – 2005) resulting in the adoption of a policy that completely overhauled and improved physical activity options for students, staff and the community. After reviewing its students’ results of the California Physical Fitness Test, the district then held a series of community meetings to discuss ways to improve the school district's PE program. The school board adopted a 5-year strategic plan which standardized the PE curriculum at all grade levels; implemented the President's Challenge program, which recognizes excellence in physical fitness; involved community and staff in the fitness program; and developed a board policy on health, fitness, and nutrition. The district also applied for funding in an effort to establish a gym that is used year-round. Source: “CALIFORNIA PROJECT LEAN.”
Click here to find out more on School Health’s website

Recess

After a long decline, recess is making a comeback in many schools.  For years schools have been cutting back on students’ “free time” to devote more attention to core subjects. But now regular vigorous movement is being recognized as important to students’ health, as well as their ability to learn. In some districts, parents have successfully advocated for restoration of recess. A number of schools have taken it a step further and scheduled recess before lunch as a way to maximize those benefits.  For tips and strategies for including recess in the school day, see Documents and Resources.

Before and After School Activities

Many schools have organized, formal before- and after-school recreation and sports programs, but many schools do not. Limited space, supervisory or coaching staff, transportation and other barriers prevent schools from offering these programs. For these schools, partnering with the local YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, private sports league or other youth service organization can create healthy opportunities for movement. For ideas and links to organizations and resources, see Documents and Resources.

 

ACTIVE ROUTES TO AND FROM SCHOOL

Many of us have fond memories of walking and bicycling to school. 30 years ago, about half of all students walked or bicycled to school. Today, fewer than 15% of all school trips are made by walking or bicycling, one-quarter are made on a school bus, and over half of all children arrive at school in private automobiles. This has increased traffic congestion and had a negative impact on air quality around schools, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and student health.  Two programs that encourage walking and biking to school are:

  • The Federal Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program empowers communities to make walking and bicycling to school a safe and routine activity once again by making funding available for a wide variety of programs and projects, from building safer street crossings to establishing programs that encourage children and their parents to walk and bicycle safely to school. For more information, visit Safe Routes. SRTS also administers the Walk to School Program, which helps raise awareness of the health, environmental, and community benefits of walking to school by sponsoring Walk to School Month in October and Walk to School Day on Oct. 8th.
  • A Walking School Bus is a simple idea of a group of children walking to school with one or more adults. It can be as informal as two families taking turns walking their children to school, or as structured as an establishing a walking route with meeting points, a timetable and a regularly rotated schedule of trained volunteers. A variation on the walking school bus is the bicycle train, in which adults supervise children riding their bikes to school. The flexibility of the walking school bus makes it appealing to communities of all sizes with varying needs. For more information, visit A Walking School Bus or Documents and Resources.

Physical Activity in the Classroom

To help get students moving, classroom teachers can provide short physical activity breaks between lessons or classes. Not only can it clear out the mental cobwebs, movement can also help discharge pent up energy and increase readiness to learn.  View our Tip Sheet on Creating A Physically Active Classroom Atmosphere and the Documents and Resources for additional information.

CLASSROOM ENERGIZER: “HAVE A BALL”

Rules/Directions:

  • Each student should wad up a piece of paper to make a ball. Use the piece of paper for the following exercises:
    • Place the ball on the feet (feet together) while seated, repeatedly toss up and catch the ball with the top of the feet (like hackey sack).
    • Set the ball on elbow. Flip the ball into the air and catch it with the hand on the same side.
    • Lift the feet off the floor (feet together) and rotate the ball over and under the legs using your hands.
    • Toss the ball overhead and catch behind back.
    • Lift the feet (feet slightly apart) and weave the ball between the left and right leg (such as a figure eight).
    • Toss the ball from behind the back and catch in the front.
    • Circle waist while standing.
  • This activity will strengthen the abdominal muscles and quadriceps.
  • Allow each student to shoot the ball into the trashcan at the end.

Source:  Easy Middle School Energizers, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, First Edition: July 2006

Away from School Activity

Commitment to physical fitness shouldn’t end at the school door. Getting children active and moving at home is an important goal, and providing parents with encouragement and tools can make a difference. Encouraging walking and riding bikes to school, when feasible, is another easy way to add physical activity to students’ days.

TV TUNE-OUT CAN UNITE HOME AND SCHOOL

Since 1995, each spring a group of Chicago-area preschools sponsor “TV Tune-Out Week,” in an effort to increase the amount of time children spend in active play instead of sedentary pursuits such as watching TV or playing video games. Working with schools, parents’ groups, libraries and local businesses, organizers provide children with a variety of interesting and educational experiences, host community events, and reward participating children with discounts from local merchants. Tips and tools to help families participate in the tune-out are available at TV Tune Out.

 

Back to Improve Food Available at School Forward to Teach Good Nutrition

 

2. Increase Physical Activity
   Challenges
   Guidelines
   Guiding Principles
   Action Areas

 

 
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