One step ahead

These guys have the right idea, and we have the perfect way to reform it.  <-- Click me!

What better way to improve the "Shape of the Nation," than to provide our children the opportunity to learn about their overall health?  Physical education needs to be reformed.  The best way to do it is to include lessons in a classroom setting in addition to physical activity.

I swear, it was for science!

I took a survey of my own to ask how my 5th grade PE class liked PERP.

The majority of them approved of the program, even if there were several reasons why.

Now, I don't approve of young girls going on diets to change their appearance in ANY way, but many girls said that the program will help them avoid becoming fat.  I corrected this on their papers when I returned them.  I told them to focus more on how healthy they are instead of comparing their bodies to what they see in magazines.  

The boys liked the physical activity, especially because they were required to recored their progress.  Instead of competing with each other I told them to compete with themselves.

Another observation was that the girls participate much more when there isn't the threat of boys hitting them with dodge balls thrown as hard as possible, and honestly I can't blame them.  Those things hurt.

I asked them if they preferred traditional PE or PERP better, and almost all preferred PERP.

Physical education needs to be reformed.  The program can help children and young adults become comfortable with their bodies and focus on health instead of appearance by educating them early on.  

Take that, traditional PE!

Lesson Plan

I think I've mentioned this a couple times before, but I am a physical education teacher at Rya's and Josh's school.  I do teach as a part of the PERP, but I am not allowed to teach Rya or Josh because the scientists conducting the research are afraid that I could skew the results by teaching my own kids.

Anyway, that doesn't really matter.  What I wanted to show you what a typical class looks like under PERP.  This is what I will be doing with my class of 5th graders tomorrow.


Tomorrow, I will be teaching a fifth grade class.  

1. 20 minute lesson on cardio exercise on the heart and circulation
1. The heart becomes stronger and will have to work less
2. Measure the heart rates of the class using two fingers on the wrist method, counting how many times it beats for one minute.
1. I plan on recording the heart rates and having the class measure again near the end of the school year to see the difference.
2. Teach them that athletes' have a lower heart rate because their hearts can pump more blood because the hearts are stronger.
3. You get lower cholesterol, which is basically fat.  Also there is less "congestion" in the arteries.
4. Have the class color a diagram of the heart, veins, and arteries.
2. Physical activity
1. Run/walk as many laps as you can in 20 minutes and keep track.
1. 5 minute stretch before and after.
3. Have the students start a food log.  
1. Have them log everything they eat every day

An article from Time

This is why we're becoming more and more unhealthy- and we need to stop it.  <-- click me!

Our kids spend about six hours in school.  They need physical activity during that time.  It would help them stay focused when they're in class, helping the teachers keep sane, and making a healthier generation all at the same time.

Physical education should not only be required, but the program needs to be reformed so that it includes lessons in health, nutrition, and exercise.

Update on the kids

About a month ago she played t-ball for the first time in the PERP, and she's been hooked on it ever since!  Getting her to consistently eat vegetables is still a bit of a challenge, but when she sees her older brothers sticking to the plate diagram during meals, she feels like she needs to do just as well.

When it comes to eating healthily, I think Josh might be a step ahead of me.  He still hates sports, but ever since the lesson on heart attacks and diabetes (they showed how you need to prick your finger every day), he's been worried about it and forces himself to at least walk or play tag with the other kids.

Migues does not have the opportunity to be in the program, but he's learning from his younger siblings. Whenever I catch him with junk food in his hands, he laments over how he did not have the opportunity Rya and Josh do.  Part of me knows that this is just an excuse coming from a sixteen year old, but I also know that he does have a point.  Learning about health and physical education at an early age is important, and should be taught in schools.

Update on the Plate Assignment

Rya and Josh were pretty good about their plate assignments (from the last post).  Even they don't have to follow it anymore, they started becoming concerned and telling me their food isn't right when the portions don't match up.

It might have take a while, but eventually the nutrition lesson will stick!

Out with the old, in with the new.

The USDA came out with a new food pyramid about two years ago.  This pyramid is a part of the Physical Education Reform program Rya and Josh are taking part in.  

The food pyramid is part of every grades' curriculum, usually at the beginning of the year just to get a feel for what nutrition should be like.

While I am a fan of the pyramid, I think the diagram with the plates is much more useful and fun for the younger set to actually use.

Rya and Josh have actually shown interest in making their meals look like this plate.  I would like to say I was the cause of this, but they've both been assigned this as homework.  Whoever sticks to the diagram the most during their meals get "points" that they can use later to buy little prizes at school.