BP 2.5 Physical Activity: Students have ample physical education or outdoor time during each school day

About

Physical activity is an important part of health and wellness. According to the CDC, children ages 3-5 should be active during the day, and adolescents ages 6-17 should be active for at least 60 minutes per day. Unfortunately, not many are meeting these requirements. In fact, 45% of individuals do not exercise, which is far below the average. There are several ways to stay active, including aerobic activities like walking and muscle-strengthening activities like climbing. It is critical to teach young people about the importance of physical activity for their health. Schools can take steps to involve students and faculty in their own health and wellness through this and other health-related best practices. 

Vision and Benefits

The vision for the physical activity best practice focuses on all schools incorporating physical activity that meets or exceeds CDC guidelines and raising awareness among all students of the importance of physical activity as part of health. Physical activity has many benefits. According to the article “Exercise and the Brain: How Fitness Impacts Learning”, Dr. Ratey explains how exercise improves learning on a few levels. These levels include enhancing one's mindset to improve alertness, motivation, and attention, as well as improving brain function for information recall. Exercise helps the brain wake up and take in new information while improving memory. Exercise also has the ability to improve mental health, such as reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. GreenStep Schools will help track and promote physical activity for students and staff in the community.

For inspiration, schools can look to MN Green Ribbon Schools awardees of the past: 

Physical Activity Best Practice Examples from MN Green Ribbon Schools

• North Park Elementary School, Fridley - 2018 Green Ribbon School:

• Students spent at least 120 minutes per week over the past year in school-supervised physical education

• At least 50% of the physical activity occurs outside

• Have many activities like jump rope for the heart every winter.

• River's Edge Academy School - 2018 Green Ribbon School:

• Students spent at least 120 minutes per week over the past year in school-supervised physical education

• 50% of physical activity occurs outdoors

• Henry Sibley High School, Mendota Heights - 2016 Green Ribbon School:

• 50% of activities are held outdoors

• Health measures are integrated into the assessment

• Physical activities include nature trails and outdoor sports

• Glendale Elementary School, Savage - 2016 Green Ribbon School:

• Students have a minimum of 120-200 min per week for physical activity

• The majority of the physical activity occurs outdoors

• Have outdoor activities like snowshoeing, hiking, and learning outdoors.

• Have a walking activity called Earth Day Story Walk

• Edgewood Early Childhood & La ola del lago Spanish Immersion School, Prior Lake - 2017 Green Ribbon School:

• Students have 100 minutes of physical education each week, led by qualified district teachers, plus an additional 100 minutes of outdoor recess per week, supervised by Edgewood School personnel.

• Activities include fishing, sledding, and nature walks.

Implement Best Practice Actions in a Project

Select Best Practice Actions (BPAs) to work on and complete.

Review the list of actions to increase physical activity and wellness in your schools. Start by recording the practices already implemented in the school. To become more involved, begin by selecting new best-practice sets from the three categories listed below and document progress over time. 

A.  Participate in recognized programs that support physical activity

A1. Fuel up to Play 60

• Participate in the Fuel Up to Play 60 program
  “Fuel Up to Play 60's primary focus is to help schools meet their wellness goals and encourage youth to consume nutrient-rich foods (low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and lean protein foods and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day.”

A2. Presidential Youth Fitness Test

•  Participate in the Presidential Youth Fitness Test, which  tests individuals by their strength, stamina, and stretching capabilities 

A3. Programs to support walking or biking 

• Participate in the “Safe Routes to School” program that promotes movement before and after school by making it safer to walk or bike to school

A4. Other recognized programs that support physical activity

• Participate in other recognized physical activity programs

B. Incorporate Physical Activity into School Activities and Curriculum

B1. Meet or exceed CDC recommendations for physical activity per student per week 

• Children from ages 3-5 should be physically active throughout the day, with the encouragement of adult caregivers

•  Adolescents from the ages of 6-17 should be physically active for 1 hour or more of moderate to vigorous activity each day 

B2. Plan to have at least half of physical activity occurring outdoors

• Aim to take students outdoors when the weather is ideal 

Measurement: Minutes of physical activity per week, and how much of that physical activity is happening outdoors

B3. Promote Physical Activity  in Extracurricular Activities

• Provide extracurricular activities for students to partake in

• Extracurricular  activities can include 

• Soccer

• Basketball

• Football

• Track 

Measurement: participation in school clubs and estimated minutes of physical activity B4. Integrate physical activity into the main curriculum 

• Create a class for students to learn the benefits of exercise and movement 

• Incorporating more movement into class settings can include:

Measurement: Number and type of classes and Minutes of Physical Activity per Week 

B5. Use self-analysis tools to assess the current state of physical education

• The PECAT, also known as the Physical Education Curriculum Analysis Tool, is designed to help schools analyze their physical education curriculum against national standards.

• The PECAT assesses the following:

• how closely physical education curricula align with national physical education standards.

• outcomes, content, and assessment components of a curriculum that correspond to national standards for physical education for three grade levels: K–5, 6–8, and 9–12.

• Helps school districts or individual schools identify changes needed in locally developed curricula.

• Helps school districts or individual schools use the PECAT to develop a physical education curriculum. 

Measurement: Reports on the Physical Education Curriculum 

C. Integrate  physical activity within the culture of the school 

C1. Make best practice actions accessible to all through widespread communication

• Keep students informed about the school's best practices in physical activity

• Create informative posters that use simple language 

• Inform students about best practices through school-wide assemblies 

• Take the necessary steps to keep staff informed and educated about the best practices for physical activity

• Promote best practices using technological and media resources to spread awareness and updates, for example, through Instagram, Facebook, or the school newspaper.

Measurement: Document number, reach, and nature of communication activities

C2. Make changes to the system and foster ongoing improvement

• Create a board that oversees all health implementations and includes physical activity

• Create an opportunity for students, parents, and staff to communicate with each other regarding the school's best practices for physical activity and propose changes

• Create a system that allows students to give feedback about physical activity best practices through meetings or surveys

Measurement: feedback system, anonymous surveys, how many students are involved, or the level of student engagement.

Submit Annual Review

The annual review for this best practice includes

• Confirming that Best Practice Actions are still active. (Eg, are programs still in operation and working? Are event or time-based actions repeated each year?)

• Amending the documentation with any changes

• Adding any lessons learned from the prior year to share with others.

To submit the annual review, send in the BP 2.2 Datasheet with the updated calendar year in the update column to reflect which BPAs are still active.

GreenStep Advisor

• Contact mngreenstepschools@gmail.com for assistance

Online Resources:

• See links in text above for resources relevant to specific actions, also see resources consulted or cited for sources.