Best Practices

Vote for this Best Practice | Email to a Friend

Teacher: John Turner who teaches at Hickory Flat ES in Canton, GA. John Turner can be contacted at jtrun@aol.com.

Name of Best Practice: Run/Walk Across America

Rationale/Purpose of Event: To encourage students, teachers, and parents to participate in a walking or running program.

Suggested Grade Level: K-8

Materials Needed: A map of the United States, arts supplies to create maps of individual states, and beads.

Each class is assigned a state to run/walk across (e.g. California, Texas, New York). Teachers and parents can also be assigned a state to run/walk across. Each week students are allotted 20 minutes to walk or run. The distance that each student travels is recorded (e.g. one quarter mile, half mile, etc.). To reward individual effort, students are awarded one bead for every mile completed. To promote class spirit, it is recommended that each class design a map of their respective state. Each week the distance traveled by each class member is added together and plotted on the state map. Having this visual display should encourage and motivate the students to complete their voyage across their respective state.

Teachers may also consider integrating the run/walk across America with other classroom assignments. For example, once a class selects a state to walk across, teachers may choose to plan lessons that explore that state's history, geography, or culture. It may also be worthwhile to arrange for pen-pals from those states. These are just a few ways to further enhance the run/walk across America experience for students.

Email this best practice!

Post a Comment: Let others know how this idea went when you implemented/tried it with your kids. Include any variations, suggested teaching tips, positive comments, etc. so others can benefit from your tips. Please be helpful and positive with all comments. Look below to see all posted comments.
Name:
Comments:
	Type the numbers you see in the image on the right in the box below:

Previous Comments:

There are currently no comments to display. Be the first to add a comment!

[Back to Best Practices Menu]

| Home | Lesson Ideas |Search PEC | Assessment Ideas | Bulletin Boards | PEC Store | Kids Programs | Advertisers | Media Center | Professional Info | Kids Quotes | Adapted PE | Preschool PE | Classroom Management | Job Center | Web Sites | PE Research | Best Practices | PEC Challenge | About PEC | Privacy Policy | Submit Your Ideas | FAQ's |

Contact us via e-mail at pec@pecentral.org or mail to:

PE Central
P.O. Box 10262
Blacksburg, VA 24062
FAX: 540-301-0112

Monday, January 14, 2013 9:15:42 AM
http://www.pecentral.org/bp/indivBPDisplay.asp