The age of a child determines the amount of total daily physical activity a child should participate in. According to the National Association for Sports and Physical Education, school age children should have a minimum daily activity of 1 hour or more that is broken up into bouts of 15 minutes or more.7 They also state that students should not be sedentary for more than 2 hours. In a classroom setting this can be difficult but can be addressed and remedied by using the recommended ABC for Fitness daily before each class.
Students should focus on the three elements of fitness: endurance, strength, and flexibility. By differentiating activities students can be sure to address all three. After learning and recording information about the three elements of exercise students will classify the type of exercise they do in their health journals.7 Students will begin by running in place for 3 minutes. Upon completion I will ask for students to vote on which of the three elements that they think running should be classified as. I will explain that endurance is an aerobic activity, that is, an activity needing additional air. When the heart beats faster and a person breathes harder over a period of time they are increasing their endurance strengthening the heart and improving oxidization of cells (as discussed in language arts class). Students will make a list of endurance building activities, such as jogging, basketball, swimming, etc.
Students will do ten push ups or sit-ups. Upon completion students will decide which of the remaining two elements the activity is. Strength will be discussed and how it can build muscle. With only one element remaining, students will reach to the ceiling and touch their toes and roll their head in a circle. I will discuss the meaning of flexibility, such as allowing the joints and bones to extend in a full range of motion. In pairs students will create their own exercise and have the class announce whether it is an example of endurance, strength, or flexibility. Also determine an activity, such as gymnastics, basketball, or create their own that includes all three forms of physical activity.
