Fit Kits: Portable Activities to Enhance Health-Related Fitness

1. Fit Kits: Portable Activities to Enhance Health-Related Fitness Kathleen M. Price, Ph.D. Marilyn J. Eisenwine, Ph.D. Angelo State University

2. Lit Kits to Fit Kits • As pre-service teachers went to public schools for field observations, they were surprised at the fitness levels and motor skills of children. • College professors collaborated to envision Fit Kits for PE to parallel Lit Kits in reading instruction. Hakes, Hines, & Eisenwine, 2002, Penn. Reads

3. Lit Kits to Fit Kits

4. Lit Kits to Fit Kits

5. Fitness Trends in America • Almost half of young people ages 12-21 do not participate in vigorous physical activity on a daily basis. • Approximately ¼ of high school students participate in moderate physical activity 4 or more days per week. • Approximately 44% of high school students are not even enrolled in physical education courses.

6. Fitness Trends in America • In schools requiring physical education, 30-40% of the teachers are NOT certified in physical education. • Physical education accounts for less than 1.75 hours per week in most schools. • In many states, requirements for physical education are gradually being reduced.

7. Texas Legislature - 2007 • 30 minutes of daily “moderate to vigorous” physical activity or 135 minutes per week K-5th grade. • 30 minutes of daily “moderate to vigorous” physical activity or 125 minutes per week or 225 over two weeks for 6-8th grade.

8. Recent Statistics • 42% of 4th graders • 39% of 8th graders • 36% of 11th graders Are overweight or at risk of being overweight according to the 2007 report from the Texas Comptroller

9. Childhood Obesity

10. Biomechanical Implications of Obesity • Mechanical concerns • Balance • Gait • Musculoskeletal concerns • Osteoarthritis • Plantar heel pain • Obesity and fracture Scott Strohmeyer, Oct. 2007, JOPERD

11. What Next?TEA Mandate - Fitnessgram • This test will be used in Texas for grades 3 and above. • It allows Physical Education teachers to record and compare fitness levels of students. • It measures aerobic capacity, body composition, muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility.

12. After studying components of health related fitness, this assignment was introduced as a challenge to students in an elementary physical education methods course. Fit Kit Assignment

13. Components of the Projects • Focus on one aspect of health-related fitness • Should be both physical and educational for the students • Must be complete with directions, rationale, artifacts, and references • Interdisciplinary focus • Project and all components should be housed in a gym bag/mesh bag for portability

14. Grading Rubric

15. Fit Kits

16. Fit Kits

17. Fit Kits

18. Health-Related Fitness This is a measure of a person’s ability to perform physical activities that require endurance, strength, or flexibility.

19. Health Related Components of Physical Fitness • Cardiovascular fitness • Muscular strength/endurance • Flexibility • Body Composition

20. The ability of the body to do vigorous activity over a long period of time Efficiency of the heart and lungs Examples include running, walking, swimming, and cycling. Cardiovascular Fitness

21. Cardiovascular Fitness • Musical Cones - tasks written on cards beneath cones to do when music ends • Jump Rope Stations/Skills • Scooter Relays • Beanbag Snag • Word Scramble - teams for completing skills and receiving cards to spell words

22. Cardiovascular Fitness • The “Big Burn” Theory - analysis of food labels to calculate calories vs. work load using pedometers to estimate distance • Pedometer Estimation Walking • Scavenger Hunt • Dance Activities - code songs with play list • Obstacle Course

23. The amount of force exerted by a single muscle contraction Ability to use muscles for an extended period of time Examples include lifting heavy objects, sit-ups, and pull-ups. Muscular Strength/Endurance

24. Muscular Strength/Endurance • Tug of War • Follow the Leader • Push-up Hockey • Relay Races

25. Muscular Strength/Endurance • “Deal or Deal” with teacher as banker • Keep on Jumping • Heart Power • Count on Fitness • Muscle Match Game

26. Flexibility • The ability of a joint and muscle group to move through a range of motion • Helps to prevent muscle and joint injuries • Examples include stretching during warm-up and cool down.

27. Flexibility • Twister • Flexibility Exercise Monopoly • Stretching Monopoly • Shoebox Sit and Reach • Stretching Taffy (or Tootsie Rolls)

28. Flexibility • Stretches • Spinal Twist • Hamstring Stretch • Calf Stretch • Shoulder Stretch • “Cat” (back) Stretch Department of Kinesiology and Health - Georgia State University

29. Body Composition • The percent of body weight which is fat compared to tissue which is bone and muscle. • Evaluation methods include skinfold calipers, hydrostatic weighing, and bioelectrical impedance.

30. Bod Pods

31. Body Composition • Food Guide Pyramid • Spongy Hydration • Student Tracker

32. Body Composition • Arial Football • Ultimate Frisbee • Food Group Relay

33. Useful for substitutes Time-saving tool Fit Kit Fridays Tailored to meet individual needs Interdisciplinary connections Advantages of Fit Kits

34. Interdisciplinary Connections • There are many opportunities to teach fitness concepts across academic disciplines. • It is possible to incorporate mathematics, science, health, music, social studies, and language arts. • Examples include calculating target heart rates, tracking blood flow through the heart, and vocabulary terms to increase knowledge.

35. Interdisciplinary Connections • Language Arts • Rhymes • Spelling • Math • Counting • Estimation • Pedometers

36. Interdisciplinary Connections • Music • Health • Burning Calories • Food Pyramid • Science • Heart • Muscles

37. Modifications for Students with Special Needs • Change size of equipment • Change space and/or distance requirements • Adapt the rules • Use a peer buddy to assist with activities

38. Other Concerns for Students with Special Needs • Do the modifications keep the activity developmentally appropriate? • Do the modifications keep the activity age-appropriate? • Is the student included successfully? • Are ALL students participating safely?

39. TEKS • Fourth grade students learn to identify the components of health-related fitness. • (3)Physical activity and health. The student exhibits a health enhancing, physically-active lifestyle that provides opportunities for enjoyment and challenge. The student is expected to: (B)name the components of health-related fitness such as strength, endurance, and flexibility.

40. TEKS • Fifth grade students can match different types of physical activities to health-related fitness components and explain ways to improve fitness based on the principle of frequency, intensity, and time. • (3)Physical activity and health. The student exhibits a health-enhancing, physically-active lifestyle that provides opportunities for enjoyment and challenge. The student is expected to: (B)identify appropriate personal fitness goals in each of the components of health-related fitness.

41. Research Findings • The CDC study “Promoting Lifelong Physical Activity” reports that the percentage of young people who are overweight has doubled in the past 20 years. • Inactivity and poor diet cause at least 300,000 deaths/year in the United States. • It is important for everyone to know the risks of a sedentary lifestyle.

42. Future Research • Student teachers in elementary schools field test Fit Kits. • Elementary students create their own Fit Kits. • Classroom teachers include physical education concepts. • Physical educators include content area skills within their curriculum.

43. For More Information contact: • Kathleen.Price@angelo.edu • Marilyn.Eisenwine@angelo.edu For a print out of PowerPoint and Handouts: http://www.angelo.edu/faculty/meisenwine/Website/index.html