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| Kids bowling watch as their balls head for the pins at Plaza Bowl Tuesday morning. Students in Alvina Green’s fifth- grade class at Abia Judd Elementary School study different sports and the muscle groups associated and then actually participate in the sport. |
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The Daily Courier
PRESCOTT-Every hour, students in Alvina Green's fifth-grade class get a chance to get out of their desks and exercise.
Rather than distracting them, the movement actually helps them focus.
Green is the softball coach at Prescott High School, even though she teaches at Abia Judd Elementary School - and she knows the importance of exercise in a child's life. That's why she joined the "Play 60 Arizona Super Bowl XLII Statewide Contest." As part of the program, which targets fifth- and sixth-graders, Green said students must exercise one hour each day: 30 minutes in class and 30 minutes at home.
Green covers a different sport each week, teaching her students about the game, its rules, and the muscles athletes use to play that sport. Then, she stops her academic lesson every hour and conducts classroom exercises for five minutes, anything from sit-ups and pushups to jumping jacks, and stretches. On Friday, she saves all the minutes until the end of the day, when the kids get to play the sport they studied all week.
"Most of the students know a lot of sports, and then there's always a handful of students that didn't experience a sport," Green said. "We want to continue throughout the year, because they are seeing the benefit of exercise."
The students bowled this past week. They also learned about badminton, swimming, softball, and this week, they are going to play kickball.
"It's just so neat and encouraging to see the students cheering each other, helping each other along," she said, adding this also teaches them about teamwork and character building.
Baylee Davies, 10, and Alex Berlowe, 11, both said they have a lot of fun doing the exercises and games in Green's class.
"It's fun 'cause then you don't have to spend the day not doing anything," Baylee said about the five-minute exercise increments. To fulfill her 30 minutes at home, Baylee plays soccer with her brother.
"On Tuesday, I usually just play with my friends, like biking on the street," Alex said about his home exercises. "On Wednesday, I go to gymnastics."
Alex said so far, his favorite sport has been bowling, because he had a lot of fun, while Baylee enjoyed softball the most.
Green said besides physical education, she is teaching the students about nutrition. She believes the program really benefits the kids.
"It keeps them active and ensures they learn about fitness," Green said.
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