{"id":5350,"date":"2016-07-20T09:44:51","date_gmt":"2016-07-20T13:44:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ssww.com\/blog\/?p=5350"},"modified":"2023-01-18T15:15:20","modified_gmt":"2023-01-18T20:15:20","slug":"lets-move-fitness-club-maize-south-middle-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ssww.com\/blog\/lets-move-fitness-club-maize-south-middle-school\/","title":{"rendered":"Let’s Move Fitness Club – Maize South Middle School"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Middle<\/p>\n

We love to highlight schools that have raised the bar in getting students active and healthy. PE teacher and Coach Brandon Wolff shares his story on how Let’s Move! Active Schools encourages fitness and physical activity at\u00a0Maize South Middle School in Wichita, Kansas.<\/p>\n

Here at Maize South Middle School, I have put together a group of 20 students called the Let’s Move Club. This club worked on 5 different areas for our school. Those areas are:<\/p>\n

Brain Boosts<\/h2>\n

A brain boost\u00a0is a quick and effective way of focusing the physical and mental state of the students. Instead\u00a0of sitting in their desks the whole class period, a brain boost can help energize and activate\u00a0the students for learning. We use all kinds of brain boosts within the classroom. I like to categorize\u00a0them into 2 different\u00a0types, which are content area based and non-content area based.\u00a0 We like to give the teachers and students a mixture of both types. I knew I\u00a0could get some teachers to use\u00a0brain boost by explaining\u00a0ways to get the students up out of their chairs, but still focusing on their content area. \u00a0A great example is a brain boost called Fast Math. Students stand up and face a partner, and both students put their hands behind their back. On the word go, both students will show a number of fingers on their hands. The student that can add up the number on their hand and their partners hand the fastest wins, and then they play again.\u00a0 There are great variations for this activity as well. For example, use only one hand only or students have to subtract\u00a0or even multiply the numbers. The non-content\u00a0area brain boosts are also a great way to get kids active within the classroom setting. The feedback I received from teachers on brain boosts was how easy it was to put in place\u00a0and that\u00a0students were more focused on the assignment after the boosts.\u00a0We shared these brain boosts lots of different ways, including going to teacher PLC’s, visiting classrooms during the day, and going on live broadcasts for the whole school.<\/p>\n

Fitness Calendar<\/h2>\n

My goal with Let’s Move, Active schools a few years ago was to incorporate\u00a0more physical activity throughout the school day. The fitness calendar was a way to make it happen.\u00a0 Every student was given a calendar page for the month.\u00a0 At the beginning of the month, my club would demonstrate the exercise that would be used for the calendar during the\u00a0morning broadcast.\u00a0 During the day students could challenge a friend or teacher to that exercise. Let’s say the exercise is the plank. Students would ask the teacher during passing period or a down time\u00a0to watch them perform that exercise. Once the students are done, the teacher will sign the calendar on that certain day. Students try to fill up their calendars by the end of the month and turn them into the office. I would then randomly select 4 completed calendars for prizes for that month. Every month the exercise will change to something new. The fitness calendar has been a good way for students to get extra physical activity, plus the students like getting the teachers involved with the challenge. It has been fun to watch the student and teacher interaction.<\/p>\n

\"Middle<\/p>\n

Newsletter<\/h2>\n

As for spreading the word about this program, I had some club members write for the monthly school newsletter and an ongoing blog about Let’s Move! Active Schools. This newsletter goes out to the parents.\u00a0The Let’s Move Club types up a little article about how we are getting students active. I believe that parents have a big component of their child’s overall health. By communicating to parents with ideas of being active, we could spark these discussions at home. Plus we get to share\u00a0accomplishments and activities\u00a0we are trying to do in school with Let’s Move! Active Schools.<\/p>\n

Recess<\/h2>\n

One of the biggest accomplishments that the club helped with was getting recess!\u00a0I have to give the credit to the Let’s Move Active Schools of Kansas for offering a free workshop through a grant from the Kansas Health Foundation. This workshop was for my administrator, a classroom teacher, and myself.\u00a0 It opened the eyes of my administrator to see the importance of not just Let’s Move! Active Schools, but also recess for our students. Once I had my administrator on board, my club started the planning process. \u00a0The students helped with designing activities for recess and getting equipment set out and picked up. We started brainstorming for recess activities, such as\u00a0Spikeball, Strike Ball, 4 Square, Kan Jam, Flag Football, and Soccer. The club wanted to choose activities\u00a0students enjoy, and also have enough activities for everyone. With the help of our PTO and administrator, I was able to purchase recess equipment.<\/p>\n

We also provide an after school program where students can be physically active for an hour after school. \u00a0At first, it started as a running club for the students, but after hearing feedback from the kids about how some didn’t like to run, we changed it to a program where kids can come run, walk and\/or play! The program meets after school 3 days a week. The first year we had around 15 students come to run, and after the change we average around 120 students. Some of the activities the students participate in are\u00a0running, walking, soccer, flag football, and ultimate Frisbee. I think it is great to see students want to come out and play!<\/p>\n

\"Middle<\/p>\n

Bull Rush<\/h2>\n

The last thing we worked on was the Bull Rush, which is a whole school event.\u00a0 The MSMS\u00a0Bull Rush is a 5K obstacle course testing the patience, strength, and endurance of each racer. The Bull Rush contains 15 obstacles strategically placed throughout the course. The race will feature a bronze, silver, and gold heat. The aim for the Bull Rush is to motivate students to meet or exceed criteria directly related to fitness testing assessments, and makes fitness testing meaningful. It also serves as a fun reward for students that went above and beyond meeting the requirements and gives them a\u00a0goal to strive for. The students help with designing the course too!\u00a0
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Obstacle<\/p>\n

Some of the obstacles are Black Hole, Rope Swing, Spider Wall, Rope Bridge, Slip N Slide, Maverick Mud Pen, Tractor Tire Tower, Watering Hole, \u00a0Black Hole, Color Splash, Hardcore Hurdles, Bungee Spider Web, and Trip Up Tires. During Physical Education class, students are giving 3 opportunities to qualify by participating in a Pre-test, Mid-term test and Post-test. Students must meet or exceed certain criteria directly tied into PE class fitness testing scores to qualify for the Bull Rush.\u00a0 Based on those qualifying scores, students will be placed into three heats.<\/p>\n

\"Fitness<\/p>\n

With this all day event, it took a lot of help from the community. Many local businesses reached out to help with donating money or material for the Bull Rush. During the event it was great to see many people for the school and local community come out and support the student runners. The students also helped with calling for donations from the community.\u00a0We had 350 students qualify for the Bull Rush. We also put on a community run the next day as a fundraiser for heart rate monitors for our physical education students.<\/p>\n

\"Let's<\/p>\n

\"Maize<\/p>\n

Here is a video of this year’s event:<\/p>\n