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Teacher: John Taylor who teaches at Blessed Sacrament School in Johnson City, NY. John Taylor can be contacted at CoachJT@USA.Net..
Name of Best Practice: Fitness and Literature
Rationale/Purpose of Event: To motivate students to read and stay active throughout the winter months.
Suggested Grade Level: 3-6
Materials Needed: Posters promoting physical activity, calendars for the students to keep track of their progress each month, posters for the students to watch their progress and their classmates
Fitness and Literature
Students Blessed Sacrament School are challenged to read or have books read to them by our librarian. Our school of 200 students were challenged to read 2000 books in 2 1/2 months. That is terrific, however, as the Physical Education Teacher, I wanted to see the students be active as well. Therefore, I challenged the students to be active for 10,000 minutes. Anytime the student is active in a sport or fitness related activity, they may record their time on their monthly calendar (provided to them by me). They record their minutes any time that they are physically active outside of school or recess can be counted as well. For example, if basketball practice is one hour they record 60 minutes of time for that activity. If they wash the car by hand after school and it takes a half hour they are awarded 30 minutes of activity time.
At the the end of the month, calendars are returned to me or the librarian and we record the minutes of physical activity and the number of books they read. After the 2 1/2 month period, we add up the entire schools progress and award certificates and prizes. All of the students receive certificates that I make up on the computer. Students that tend to be more active get special certificates and recognition at our Awards Ceremony. If I can get awards donated to me, then I give them out to all my students who were active for the entire time. This can be done by a drawing. Pull a name and they get an award, however, the student had to turn their calendars back in from all months and had to be active in all the months.
(Any Practice receiving 5 Votes earns Blue Ribbon Status on PEC)
Posted on PEC: 10/2/2001 and has received 114 votes.

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