Go
Figure! Building Fitness by the Numbers
Go
Figure! is
a fun way to learn mathematical and fitness concepts simultaneously.
Far more than just counting beads of sweat on the brow, Go Figure!
gives students the opportunity to use mathematical concepts as they
experientially learn about weight control, dietary fat and healthy
lifestyles. To make things even better, it's all packaged in a
low-cost, easy-to-use fashion. (Go Figure!)
Go Figure! has eight lessons. Each one is designed to be completed in one week. Concepts are first presented in class where the children experience and experiment with the activities. Once completed, the children use the take-home sheets to become the "instructor" at home and help other family members try the wellness activities.
All activities are designed to be conducted in 30 minutes or less at home, as we know family time is at a premium. Because students will need instruction and time to experiment, the classroom portion may take a bit longer. Nevertheless, it is time well spent as students learn at a young age the importance of taking care of themselves.
Go Figure! is designed to be user-friendly. Each lesson consists of four pages. The first two pages are for the teacher; the last two are take-home sheets. All sheets may be copied as needed for use in the classroom and home.
• Page
1 of the teacher sheet notes the behavioral objective(s),
then provides a script and information designed to orient
your students to the upcoming activity. • "Class
Action" provides step-by-step instructions for conducting
the activity in the classroom. • Material(s)
needed is listed on the clipboard.
When the activity is completed in the classroom, each student is provided a copy of the take-home sheet. The student knows how to do the activity and he/she becomes the instructor at home.
EPEC
The
Need:
When compared to their peers in other states, Michigan youth exhibit
several elevated health risk factors that are precursors to serious
diseases (e.g., physical inactivity, obesity, elevated cholesterol
and high blood pressure).
Mission:
To enable those responsible for physical education to create
exemplary programs. This requires developing and distributing
materials and procedures which help youth obtain the necessary levels
of fitness, motor skills, knowledge and attitudes to be fit for life.
The
Instructional Model:
Shifts the emphasis away from assuming that potential benefits from
physical education can be achieved merely through participation in
traditional activities to one providing specific educational
activities to produce results.
Phone:
877-4MIEPEC (Toll-free)
Web Address:
www.michiganfitness.org/physicaleducation/Default.htm
Physical Address: EPEC
c/o Michigan Fitness Foundation
P.O. Box 27187
Lansing, MI 48909
SPARK
SPARK
(Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids) is an elementary school
physical education research program whose purpose is to reduce heart
disease risk in youth and promote healthy lifestyles for the future.
It encourages kids to participate in regular physical activity after
school, on weekends and during holidays and summers. Research shows
it dramatically increases both the quantity and quality of physical
education taught by specialist or classroom teachers. Materials for
SPARK are available for schools and other non-profits from San Diego
State University.
Phone:
1-800-SPARKPE
Web Address: www.foundation.sdsu.edu/projects/spark/
CATCH
CATCH
(The Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health) helps
teach elementary students healthy habits that prevent heart disease.
It targets students in grades 3-5 using physical education class, the
school cafeteria and even the home. Study results show that the
curricula effectively reduces children's intake of total fat and
saturated fat and significantly increases the intensity of physical
activity both in and out of school.
Phone:
301-251-1222
Physical Address: NHLBI Information Center
P.O. Box 30105
Bethesda, MD 20824-0105
What is the best way to handle a disruptive student in class? How should you adapt your physical education curriculum when class time is cut? What about when it is lengthened? What measures can you take to keep all your students safe during physical education? As this section of the Fitness for Youth Web Page continues to expand, we will give helpful, informative answers for all these questions and more. For now, check out our tips for teaching physical education to special-needs students. These tips not only cover children with serious disabilities such as cystic fibrosis, autism and spinal cord injuries. They also tell teachers how to teach students with more common problems such as asthma, attention deficit disorders and hearing impariments.
Tips for Special-Needs Students