The cost of various medals, awards, shirts, and 50 bracelets from Fitness Finders is $537, including shipping and <a target="new" href="http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm" onclick="g_openWindow('http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm', 300, 800, 'fulfillwindow');return false;">fulfillment</a>.
This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
With childhood obesity on the rise, I have implemented a program to help students and their families GET FIT!! The students receive a Monthly Exercise Log and record what exercises/activities they do at home. At the end of the month, students bring their exercise logs and receive shoe tokens, powerbands, t-shirts etc. for their efforts! The students are encouraged to invite family and friends to join them as they GET FIT!! The students will benefit physically as well as mentally and socially. Research shows that physically active kids do better in the classroom. "According to various studies, physical activity affects brain structures and brain chemicals and thus influences higher cognitive processes like attention, learning and memory. Specifically, studies have shown that physical activity has a positive effect on executive processes, i.e. on processes concerning attention, planning, decision making, coping with stress, correcting mistakes ? all processes that are highly relevant for daily life, and are also required at school. Other studies have found that physical activity stimulates the growth of cells in the hippocampus, a brain structure involved in learning." (www.oecd.org).
As Physical Education teacher of 640 students grades 1-5, I have a direct impact on their love for movement, but I only see them once a week for 50 minutes! That's why it is so imperative that students are encouraged to exercise at home. Our school is very diverse racially and socioeconmically and the need for physical fitness in their day must become a priority. The exercise log has been very successful so far to help the students and their families become more responsible for their physical health.
In order to implement the program, there is a need to order the incentives to continue to encourage the students to participate. I use the website fitnessfinders.net to purchase the rewards the students earn. I would greatly appreciate any financial support Donors Choose can offer to help fund this program. I feel so lucky to be a Physical Educator and to be able to impact so many lives each day! I truly believe that this program can benefit the students and their families in a positive way! Thanks!
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Poynter and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.