By

Ryan Eubank,   Beckham Elementary School

Play:

Walk this Way — Start a Walking Club

Topics:

Access to Healthy Foods, Physical Activity Participation, Student Leadership,  Teamwork

For the past seven years, I have had a fall and spring running club before school. This year, we decided to have the student Fuel Up to Play 60 team leaders wear their shirts on running club days and support and encourage the other students. Afterwards, I have the leaders encourage the other kids to drink water, eat a healthy breakfast and lunch for the day.

How did students and adults work together as a team?

I told the students my idea and they were exciting and even wanted to make posters to hold up.

How do you plan to make this Play last during the school year and beyond?

Students at our school really enjoy running club so it's not hard to get them motivated to do it.

What improvements have you seen at your school?

Every year we seem to get more and more participation. Students see others in the mornings running and having fun, so they want to join. Teachers also love running club, they comment how students who run before school get a lot of energy burned off and have a better day in the classroom.