By

JULIA HUCK,   Koepsell Education Center

Play:

In-Class Physical Activity Breaks — Good For Mind and Body

Topics:

Physical Activity Participation,  Student Leadership

The Student Health Team at Koepsell Elementary School is working hard to make big changes in their school community. With help from Principal Diane Boehm and 4th grade teacher Kathy Lefchik, the team has been promoting the importance of eating healthy and being physically active every day. The health team led a school wide physical activity break every Wednesday in the month of February. At 10:35, two student health team representatives entered each classroom, music started playing, and everyone moved for 3 minutes. Then the students had everyone sit down, close their eyes and take 3 deep breaths. The students were able to return to their classroom activities feeling energized and ready to learn. Feedback from staff and students has been positive and we are hoping to make in class activity breaks a part of the daily routine.

How did students and adults work together as a team?

The Student Health Team has been working with their principal and teacher liaison for the last 2 years to promote health initiatives. The students discuss their ideas during meetings and then present them to the principal. We then work on planning and implementing with the principal. The Student Health Team has received so much positive feedback that they are energized and excited to keep making changes in their school community.