A Curriculum-Integrated Classroom Physical Activity Promotion Tool for Elementary Schools

Physical activity promotion efforts in schools have typically focused on the addition or the enhancement of physical education classes or activities. Another potential, and largely untapped, educational and behavioral opportunity however lies in the academic classroom setting, where most of a school child's sedentary walking hours are spent. We have developed a classroom-based physical activity promotion tool that integrates multiple 10-minute physical activity breaks into the traditional academic curriculum (mathematics, language arts, social studies, and science). In April 2000, 27 schools (803 classrooms, approximately 20,000 children in grades K-5) in the Atlanta area formed the basis of a 10-week pilot evaluation study. A random sample of teachers participated in an evaluation study designed to assess implementation patterns, program effectiveness, and program acceptance. Forty-three responses (52% response rate) were received. 60.5% of teachers reported doing a TAKE 10! activity lesson at least once per day and an additional 30.2% reported a frequency of twice or more per day. 90% of teachers reported agreeing or strongly agreeing that the curriculum tool materials were age appropriate and these results were constant across grade levels (p = 0.10). The most prominent reason teachers reported using the program was to promote health (67.4%) followed by the motivation of students (60.5%). 82% of teachers indicated they planned to continue using the program when the pilot test ended. No differences in implementation patterns were observed by years of teaching experience or by grade level taught (p > 0.05). A classroom-based physical activity promotion program that integrates activity with academic lessons is feasible in elementary schools.