Physical Activity
These links will provide you with up-to-date, research-based information on programs, resources, curricula and policies that support and promote physical education. Links provided by Trina Boyle-Holmes, Physical Education Consultant for the Michigan Department of Education and the Michigan Action for Healthy Kids (MAHK) Tool Kit Committee.
Tips and Tools to Promote Physical Education and Physical Activity: This resource was developed by Michigan Action for Healthy Kids to help schools implement the Quality Physical Education Policy passed by the Michigan State Board of Education.
Categories
For Teachers
About Recess
For Parents
For Students
For Teachers
Brain Breaks: This resource, developed by the Michigan Department
of Education, is a physical activity idea book for classroom teachers.
www.emc.cmich.edu/BrainBreaks
KidsRunning.Com: Read all about the strategies that a creative teacher
has developed to incorporate healthy snacking and physical activities into
elementary and special education classrooms.
www.kidsrunning.com/columns/whatkidsneed2.html.
Public Broadcasting System (PBS): Teacher Source: This resource is
focused on health and fitness information for K-12 teachers and includes free
lesson plans for health and physical education, teacher planning guides, and
classroom physical and nutrition activities.
www.pbs.org/teachersource/health.htm
Take 10: Produced by the International Life Sciences Institute, this
site provides creative strategies for increasing classroom physical activity.
www.take10.net
About Recess
Elementary School Recess: The American Association for the Child’s
Right to Play developed this resource, which provides information on elementary
school recess games and activities.
www.ipausa.org/elemrecessbook.htm
The American Association for the Child’s Right to Play (IPAUSA):
The purpose of IPA/USA is to protect, preserve, and promote play as a fundamental
right for all humans. The United Nations’ Declaration of the Rights
of the Child (1959), Article 7, paragraph 3, states: “The child shall
have full opportunity for play and recreation which should be directed to
the same purposes as education; society and the public authorities shall endeavor
to promote the enjoyment of this right;”.
www.ipausa.org
For Parents
Fitness and Kids: This company’s website offers parents a number
of resources including: exercise videos for kids, current health and fitness
articles, physical activity equipment, and books.
www.fitnessandkids.com/index.html
Kidnetic: Sponsored by the International Food Information Council,
is a product of the ACTIVATE initiative, a comprehensive, outreach program
designed to assist families and children in achieving healthy lifestyles through
good nutrition and regular physical activity. The kidnetic website delivers
current information to parents and kids. Links include: “ask the expert”
for questions on healthy lifestyles and “recipes to make with your kids.”
www.kidnetic.com
Kids’ Health: This Nemours Web site is aimed at families and
has a specific parents’ link. Parents can utilize the site or links
for nutrition, physical activity, and health information related to youth.
www.kidshealth.org
Parent Tips for Rearing Heart-Healthy, Active Children: This American
Heart Association sponsored website is geared at helping parents help children
develop good physical activity habits at an early age. Information addresses
heart healthy habits that parents can model for their children.
www.justmove.org/fitnessnews/hfbodyframe.cfm?Target=parenttips.html
PE Central: This site has information regarding physical education
and health for teachers, students, and parents. PE Central’s goal is
to “provide the latest information about developmentally appropriate
physical education programs for children and youth.” It includes lesson
and assessment ideas, information about adapted PE, how to create a positive
learning environment, a program called “log it” to log steps/miles
with pedometers, and much more.
www.pecentral.org
For Students
American Diabetes Association (ADA): The nation's leading nonprofit
health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy.
Get into the Youth Zone! This section of the ADA website has all kinds of
great stuff to help children manage their diabetes. They’ll also find
fun games, tips, and links.
http://diabetes.org
http://diabetes.org/youthzone/youth-zone.jsp
Body and Mind (BAM): This colorful, interactive website was designed
for young people to promote a variety of preventive and health enhancing behaviors.
Topics addressed include physical activity, nutrition, asthma, stress, safety,
injury prevention, and infectious diseases.
www.bam.gov/
PE Central: This site has information regarding physical education
and health for teachers, students, and parents. PE Centrals goal is to “provide
the latest information about developmentally appropriate physical education
programs for children and youth.” It includes lesson and assessment
ideas, information about adapted PE, how to create a positive learning environment,
a program called “log it” to log steps/miles with pedometers,
and much more.
www.pecentral.org
President’s Challenge: This is a physical activity promotion
program aimed at motivating all Americans to become more active. Children
and teens have the opportunity to log their daily activity and accumulate
physical activity points to receive an award.
www.presidentschallenge.org
VERB, It’s What You Do: This national, multicultural media campaign
encourages young people, ages 9-13 (tweens), to be physically active every
day. This portion of the VERB web site includes resources and information
specifically intended for tweens.
www.verbnow.com/
