Grant Proposal for Pedometer Usage in a Curriculum
by Janelle Schumacher

Project:
Interweaving whole brain physical activities into school and home.

Objectives:

• make elementary students aware of how physical activity directly relates to classroom achievements
• provide a direct avenue through physical activities into the home to enhance academic learning
• provide quality family learning togetherness
• link critical learning through movement

Program Description:
Using physical activity to create enhanced learning in a child's classroom is what physical education of the new 21st century is all about. This project would provide a concrete tool for not only students to use and learn from but it will provide a link back to the family of each child involved. A step counter (attached to the waistband of students) will count each step a child takes and will promote instant motivation for additional activity. Providing family activities within a school setting will create safe, pro-social communities for our children to grow up in.

Students at the elementary level need to be taught that movement is good for them personally in health and for added brain stimulation. Introducing of a step counter in a student's education will be visual reminder to promote a healthy active lifestyle. The step counter gives students the opportunity to quickly see how their own bodies react to a variety of movement.

Student's will take home "Family Packs" which included enough step counters to involve their families in additional movement. This will allow families to play together for better health. Step counters will serve as a stimulus for Mom's and Dad's to spend quality time with their child. The results are twofold. More time will be spent in physical movement and quality family time will be spent together improving everyone's health.

Studies have proven that movement promotes brain waves. Strategies could be coordinated between the classroom teacher and the physical education specialist to apply data into the core curriculum.

Family activities are not new, but teaching students and parents a new slant on movement will promote family togetherness for the well being of the child is.

Health and Educational Benefits of Pedometer Usage in a Curriculum

How many students will benefit?

At Centennial elementary in Fargo, ND there are 805 students. This project would include all interested students.

How does this project improve student learning?

Learning will take place initially through visual observation. As students understand the concept of counting steps, they will then relate the actual number of steps taken with distance. Estimating is a math skill that child struggle with. Once distance is equated with the number of steps taken, students will be able to estimate the distance to derive at tasks that will consistently improve mathematical reasoning. Whole Brain activities that a line with classroom instruction will allow students to achieve creative methods in classroom projects. Involving classroom teachers with activities taught in physical education will provide a place for a student to ask questions that are important to them. Arriving at a decision making process that will invite children to help to make wise choices in today's world. By involving children in a curriculum that engages them, allows a student to know that their opinions are valued. A child will then begin to think like a scientist or an historian with thought provoking activities involving decision making. Critical thinkers will be developed and family member's can become an active participant.

How will I evaluate the effectiveness of the project?

The Centennial library staff would bar code the Family Fun Packs for checkout for weekend use. This would allow a tracking system to know the involvement of Centennial families. Making movement an important lifelong family skill will promote an active, healthy lifestyle for the existing generations and for the new generations being taught in today's public schools. This will carry over to a child's own immediate families and increase healthy lifelong choices. Teaching children to be critical, curious, creative thinkers is the evaluation of learning.

Budget and Funding for Pedometer Usage in a Curriculum

The $6,400 grant would allow the purchase of 175 step counters, 10 Family Fun Packs to be taken home for weekend use, and an end of the year celebration.

Project Activities:

Project Activities:

Budget Narrative:

Objective Categories            Budgeted Amount

Equipment-step counters         $ 3,300.00

Family Take Home Packs          $   700.00

Repair/batteries/replacements   $   500.00

End of Year Celebration         $ 2,000.00

Total                           $ 6,500.00
                                ==========

Line item #1:
Step counters are $19.00. 173 step counters would be purchased for student and staff usage. It is important that the staff within the building show the children daily that their health is important to them. I firmly believe that you can't teach a child to be healthy if you yourself are not healthy. By providing a step counter to each staff member, it shows each child the important of health.

Line item #2:
Family Fun Packs are $60.00. 10 Family Fun Packs would be purchased. This would include 4 step counters, safety straps, storage container, and incentive tokens packaged together for weekend use. (Adjusted when needed)

Line item #3:
Batteries need to be replaced and replacement of broken step counters would be needed. The Pedometers are made with durable plastic, but sometimes crack and would need replacing.

Line item #4:
A family celebration would be held in the school gym with pizza pop and ice cream. There would be drawings of family names in attendance for Family Fun Packs to be given away!