Don't Sit, Get Fit...AFter School!

4th-6th Graders are finishing up their last take home assignment of the year. It is an assignment encouraging all students to develop the habit of being active after school. Check out the assignment below!

Don’t Sit, Get Fit…After School!

Name___________________________________________ Grade________

Scientific research is telling us that if you move more throughout the day, you will live a longer, healthier life. After school, many kids are going home and sitting the rest of the day and night playing video games, surfing the web, or watching television. Instead of doing this, make it a goal to move! There are many options to choose from such as: sports, bike riding, jogging, flying a kite, walking the dog, hiking, or just playing games with friends. Try new things and get involved!

Below you will log seven days of ASA “After School Activity.” List the date, activity you participated in (ASA), and how long you spent doing it (Active Time). It is okay to do the same thing more than once. The goal is to make sure you are doing something active! Have fun!

Date____________________

ASA_____________________

Active Time________________

Date____________________

ASA_____________________

Active Time________________

Date____________________

ASA_____________________

Active Time________________

 Date____________________

ASA_____________________

Active Time________________

Date____________________

ASA_____________________

Active Time________________

Date____________________

ASA_____________________

Active Time________________

Date____________________

ASA_____________________

Active Time________________

Great Job! Now keep going! Make it a long-term goal to spend time being active after school. You will be healthier and feel better because of it. Don’t sit, get fit!

Awesome Food = Plantains!

Plantains are a fruit belonging to the same family as the banana that provide a nice mix of complex carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. In fact, pound for pound, plantains contain more vitamin C, vitamin A, and potassium compared to bananas. They also contain B vitamins and magnesium. One of my favorite ways to eat a plantain is to slice it up and fry it under light heat with some coconut oil. If you're looking for other recipes, just do an internet search and you will find many. Plantains can often be found next to the bananas in many grocery stores. They are quite a bit bigger so if you think you're looking at a massive banana, chances are it's actually a plantain!



image courtesy of inner-gourmet.com

Playing Drums Is Great Exercise!

A study published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine showed that the energy expended by a drummer during a 60 minute rock concert is equal to that of a person going for a brisk jog. This is a great example of an alternate activity to jogging that provides many of the same great health benefits!


Resource:  De La Rue SE, Draper SB, Potter CR, Smith MS. Energy Expenditure in Rock/Pop Drumming. Int. J. of Sports Med. 2013 Apr 4.

Image courtesy of drumlessonsmanchester.co.uk

2013 Baggo & Bocce

Click on the link below to see Baggo & Bocce highlights from PE class!

2013 Baggo & Bocce

2013 Polo & Golf

Click on the link below to see some Polo & Golf highlights from PE class!

2013 Polo & Golf

Push-up & Plank Tests

Click the link below to see a video of students performing the "push-up" and "plank" tests!

 Push-up & Plank Tests

Awesome Food = Strawberries!

Strawberries (like most berries) pack a powerful punch in terms of nutrients. Many unique flavanoids are contained in strawberries, which help the body prevent disease. One such nutrient in strawberries is called "fisetin." Universities in Taiwan, Poland, China, and the University of Wisconsin in the USA are all studying the effects fisetin has on cancer cells. The research so far in cell studies is promising, showing fisetin had the ability to help destroy cancer cells through various processes. Strawberries, like blueberries, have also been shown to have protective effects on the brain and heart.



Image courtesy of vineyardgardencenter blog

6th Grade Plans PE - Video 2

Here is another great video of 6th grade "Plan PE" fitness activities! Click the link below.

6th Grade Plans PE

6th Grade Plan PE - 2013

6th Graders are planning and teaching unique, fun fitness activities this semester. Check out some of the activities by clicking on the link below!

6th Grade Plan PE - 2013

March PE Star Students

Here are the students who were voted PE Stars for the month of March. They displayed excellent character and set a positive example for their classmates. Great job!

3rd Grade Stars

4th Grade Stars

5th Grade Stars

6th Grade Stars

2013 3-on-3 Tourney

2013 3-on-3 Tourney

Student Questions - Round 7

Question: If you are in a desk all day, but you exercise in the morning, will you still have possibilities of getting diseases like cancer?

Answer: There is no exact answer to this as everyone's body chemistry and genetics are different. What research is telling us right now is that the more often you move, the better your chances to live longer. Movement promotes healthy circulation of our cardiovascular and detoxification systems. This means that oxygen and nutrition will be circulated better to all the cells, tissues, and organs. It also means that our bodies will be better able to get rid of "trash" through our waste removal systems.

Question:What can you do that is active when it's bad weather outside?

Answer: Think of all the exercises we do as part of our dynamic warm-up. Things like jumping jacks, lunges, push-ups, burpees, squats, split squats, planks, bird-dogs, and foot fire can all be done in a small space. If you have a play room or basement, invent games to play with soft balls or other equipment that will not damage your house. An exercise bike, treadmill, or elliptical machine are also good options for indoor exercise. If you use your imagination, I'm sure you can come up with many different ways to get active.

Question: How do you improve running faster?

Answer: To improve speed, three things must occur. 1. You must improve your strength. Remember, a fast runner is someone who is powerful. Power = Strength + Speed. Exercises like squats, lunges, split squats, push-ups, and planks can increase total body strength. 2. You must practice running fast! When you sprint, you are activating your fast twitch muscle fibers. These muscles will gradually change and learn to fire faster as you practice sprinting. Jogging will not make you a faster runner, although it can help with your endurance. 3. Practice running with good technique. Lean forward, land on your mid to front foot, and drive your arms straight forward from your hips upward. If you do these things, you will find yourself running faster over time.