A Teachers Guide To Promoting Physical Activity At An Early Age

JOHN FECICH

What Play 60 Is…

This program educates and motivates middle school students to move more before, during and after the school day for at least 60 minutes every day.

The design of the Challenge allows schools to create an environment conducive to physical activity.

Childhood obesity rates are at all-time highs.

Nearly one in three kids and teens in the United States are obese.or overweight.

Why It’s Important

Physical activity produces overall physical, psychological and social benefits

Inactive children are likely to become inactive adults.

Research suggests a relationship between increased physical activity and improved academic performance.

Why It’s Important…

Teachers play an essential role in getting students active

As a teacher, you have an opportunity to impact your students’ choices and actions. Your attitude will

influence those of your students, so plan to participate in physical activity with your students and

have some fun!

The following slides will guide you on how to run each week and give you lots of ideas to get your class going.

The most important tool that offers most of play 60 resources is heart.org/NFLPLAY60Challenge

Teachers instructional video

Getting you started

Assemble a team of teachers and administrators to serve as the Challenge leaders.

Involve as many teachers as possible so that students are engaged in all classes.

Recruit staff to serve as cheerleaders, providing motivation and to track progress using the play 60 tracker.

Week 1The Draft

Launch the NFL PLAY 60 Challenge by completing the Making a Game Plan activity in the Teacher Resources section.

Encourage students to download the NFL PLAY 60 App to help get their 60 minutes of physical activity each day

Week 2Kicking Off Play 60

- Pick from the 60 great Lesson Plans on heart.org/NFLPLAY60Challenge to reinforce the importance of living a healthy, active life.

- Talk with students about how you’re going to track their minutes of physical activity by using the Classroom Scoreboard and Online Tracker. Your team goal is 60 minutes of daily physical activity per student.

- Implement Physical Activity Breaks into classes and active Lesson Plans to accumulate 30 minutes throughout the school day.

Week 2 Continued…

1. Use the Student Game Planners, staff role models and new resources from this Guide to stay inspired.

2. Continue Physical Activity Breaks and active Lesson Plans. Track classroom minutes.

3. Communicate with parents to encourage physical activity at home.

Regular SeasonWeeks 3&4

Keep

it

up

!

Activity breaks are 3-5 minute physical activity breaks that get your students moving.

Activity Breaks

Arm Circles Hop March

High Knees Skip Jumping Jack

Walk Push- Up Jump Rope

Dance Steps High Knees Gallop

Activity Break Examples…

Ice breaker physical activity

Students form a circle and introduce themselves one at a time. Each student uses an action to demonstrate his/her favorite way to be physically active. The class repeats the student’s name and action.

A few in depth activity breaks…

Students tape a piece of crumpled paper ball, and use it as a hacky sack with a partner or in groups of three. Students can use all body parts to keep the ball in the air as long as they can.

Group Juggling

Assign a movement for a number. 1 = run in place, 2 = touch your shoe, 3 = tap your knee, 4 = stomp the stadium floor, 5 = hand jive , 6 = low kicks, etc. Call out or post a number on a whiteboard and have students do that activity for 10 seconds before giving them a new number

Number Movements7

3

5

Participating in the NFL PLAY 60 Challenge means helping students get 60 minutes of physical activity every day—30 minutes at school and 30 minutes at home. You can encourage students to get active at home by assigning homework that requires physical activity

Homework

Some examples are…

Using the NFL PLAY 60 app, go on an adventure in a virtual world where you will physically move your body by running, jumping, pivoting and turning in place to help your avatar avoid obstacles. Challenge your family and friends to see who can get the highest score in the game. You can also choose an activity from the Activity Finder to complete

Play 60 APP

Travel the United States: As a family, keep track of the daily number of minutes everyone is physically active. Each minute is equal to a mile. See how long it takes the family to travel from your home to your favorite places in the United States.

U.S.A. TRAVEL

Do a final push for students to make sure they are getting 30 minutes of activity at home

Tally total minutes for the school or participating classrooms and celebrate! Plan an event or rewards for students. Consider a certificate ceremony to recognize students and staff

Final Tally And PostseasonWeek 5 & 6

Maintain the momentum you have created in your classrooms once the challenge is over.

Keep instituting physical activity breaks in your class throughout the year and continue to encourage it at home!

Keep It Going!

Instituting the play 60 challenge into your classrooms and schools will be very beneficial for your students and their families.

Most kids love the NFL and they are very involved with this challenge. (NFL’S Involvement)

All the resources you need are linked in throughout

the PowerPoint so there are NO excuses!

Conclusion For You Teachers

All of the information from this presentation was provided by heart.org/NFLPlay60Challenge

References