AOL Health interviews Mrs. Obama about childhood obesity and the changes that parents and schools can make in order to reverse the startling numbers of unhealthy kids. It is estimated that 1/3 of America’s young people are obese, but Mrs. Obama believes that it does not have to be their future.

Mrs. Obama discusses several small steps to help parents create healthy lifestyles for their children. She suggests limiting TV time to the weekends, which forces kids to find other entertainment, usually involving movement, and encourages parents to practice balance by allowing their kids to enjoy a slice of cake at a birthday party occasionally, rather than eliminating it altogether. In the Obama household, they removed processed and sugary snacks from their cabinets, and increased the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and water.

Mrs. Obama understands that healthy eating habits and weight discussions can be sensitive topics between parents and children, and she suggests a great way to approach the topic. “The flip side to obesity can be eating disorders, and we certainly don’t  want to encourage the reverse trend…one of the things that we try to do in our home is not really talk about weight,” she explains, “The campaign of Let’s Move is not about how our kids look, this isn’t vanity or ego. It’s really about how our kids feel and it’s about their health.

In the below video, Obama discusses some of the individual successes as well as the long-term goals of the Let’s Move Campaign.

It’s mid-summer and although we’re not trying to get you back to school too soon, we do want you to be prepared when the time comes. So, we’ve added the first of our new iPad features for a handful of 3-6 Instructional Units. Check out our new Dynamic Rubrics and Class Roster templates.

Each Rubric and Roster template is given in XLS format and has been designed to look great and function well on iPad and laptops alike. Currently, we’ve posted these tools in the following units (3-6 Instructional Media Library): Aerobic Games, Chasing & Fleeing, Group Fitness, and Racquets & Paddles.

Here’s the quick-tips version on how they work:
(Numbers App is required for iPad)

1. Visit SPARKfamily.org and download a Dynamic Rubric and Class Roster.
2. Open the files in Microsoft Excel or Apple Numbers.
3. Type student names into the Class Roster for quick cut-and-paste into each rubric. See tabs along the bottom of the spreadsheet for 8 separate classes.
4. Save the rubric in an organized Rubrics folder.
5. After names are entered into your rubric, connect iPad, select your iPad device in iTunes and select the Apps tab.
6. Click on the Numbers App, then click “Add…” below the Numbers Documents listing.
7. Choose the rubric you’d like to work with and click open.
8. Sync your iPad and you’re ready to work!

Look for detailed iPad tutorials this Fall in the SPARKfamily .org Resource Center.

Enjoy the rest of the summer. We’re looking forward to serving you in the 2010-11 school year!

Aaron Hart
Development Director
SPARKfamily.org

One disturbing piece of information continues to hamper physical education successfully moving forward. The terms “physical activity” and “physical education” are often used interchangeably, yet they differ in important ways. Understanding the difference between the two is critical to understanding why both contribute to the development of healthy, active children. Think of this: Physical Activity is a behavior. Physical Education (PE) is a core subject area with a curriculum that includes physical activity.

Here is NASPE’s definition of physical activity vs. physical education: http://tinyurl.com/27j2pcv

To those of us at SPARK, and certainly to the researchers, active classes is a hallmark of quality Physical Education. A PE class in which students are standing or sitting most of the time cannot be a good PE class. PE is about teaching through the physical. The goal is to teach movement skills, teamwork, and positive social interactions, as well as improve fitness and promote the joy of movement by getting students active. Right?

What are your thoughts??

-Kymm Ballard, Ed.D

By making significant changes in the areas of healthy eating, physical activity and staff wellness, these schools have joined a growing movement of committed individuals and organizations that are working to combat childhood obesity and foster healthier communities

This year, four schools were awarded because they implemented a SPARK program in their school!

Wilkerson Elementary School – El Monte, California

Wilkerson Elementary School has made student health a priority. They started by upgrading their physical education program by providing SPARK training for all the classroom teachers. This was supported by the purchase of new physical education equipment that would encourage teachers to implement active participation and non-competitive activities as part of physical education. The next step was to provide awareness of the value of healthy food choices, introducing students to new fruits and vegetables and the “Caught Eating Healthy” campaign which provided rewards to students that selected healthier options in the cafeteria.

North Beach Elementary School – Miami Beach, Florida

The PE department made significant changes to its curriculum this year. It was one of 40 pilot schools in the county selected to adopt and train teachers in the SPARK program of inclusive, easy to learn PE activities. In support of this change, the PTA granted the PE department $6,700 to purchase new equipment to be used for the SPARK program. Members of the school’s student wellness council came up with a way to put a healthy spin on the traditional career week this year: they invited local health and wellness experts, including speakers from the Pritikin Longevity Center, Miami Heat Basketball Team and the Coast Guard, to lead discussions and conduct hands-on demonstrations for the students, staff and community.

Cortada Elementary School – El Monte, California

Teachers were trained in the SPARK program and began incorporating more structured, active play during physical education classes. The school participates in the annual Walk to School Day as well as the California Nutrition Network which provides healthy recipes in English and Spanish. The Harvest of the Month program provides classrooms with produce for students to sample as well as materials for incorporating the food into lessons. They also offer a Guest Chef program where teachers can sign up to have a chef come in to make something special with the produce, which everyone has enjoyed.

Le Gore Elementary School – El Monte, California

Le Gore started by looking at their physical education program. After providing training in the SPARK program, the teachers are energized about PE and what was once only playtime for students has become a true physical education program. The school wellness council meets during the school site council every two months; together they plan and coordinate other activities to benefit students. By working together, they have made other significant improvements at Le Gore including replacing traditional chocolate and candy fundraisers with healthier alternatives.

Congratulations to these schools and all the others that won! You should be proud of your accomplishments and thank you for helping fight childhood obesity in this country!

-SPARK

You’ve got 30 days (or less – depending on when you read this) to put in a high quality proposal.

Here are a few important things to think about as you do your best to meet the deadline.

• Register online as soon as possible.  Go to the following links and complete the necessary steps to be eligible to apply online. http://www07.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp
  (Click Organization Registration and complete the steps). Only online applications will be accepted this year so be sure to register early.




• Know and understand what you are required measure.  The federal government is expanding the data to be collected by winning applicants.  Be sure to address each of the required measures in your objectives as well as you evaluations.  Visit http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-14731.htm for the initial announcement and overview. Click Here for the 2010 application.




• Go for the bonus points!  Be sure to include a well-outlined plan for collecting BMI data.  Your superintendent will need to be on board and signatures will be required.  However, this could be the difference between a winning grant and an application that almost wins.Likewise, gather your programming partners, like other health organizations, your food service staff or local youth organizations.  A written and signed collaborative agreement can also score you much need bonus points.

• This last tip continues to be critical to winning PEP Grants: Know your needs and be able to prove them through documentation and assessment information. In your application, clearly outline where your program can improve and how PEP funding will make those improvements. Prove that you’ve done your homework by utilizing available assessment tools like the School Health Index and PECAT. Always address local, state and national standards.

Update 6/22/10:

The Department is providing technical assistance (TA) opportunities to applicants in the form of both webinars and conference calls. These opportunities are scheduled as follows:

1. June 21, 2010 (Webinar) –information specific to SHI, HECAT/PECAT, and BMI
2. June 22, 2010 (Webinar) –information specific to SHI
3. June 29, 2010 (AM Conference Call) –general info on program and application submission
4. June 29, 2010 (PM Conference Call) general info on program and application submission
5. July 7, 2010 (Conference Call) general info on program and application submission

Additional information related to these TA opportunities will be posted on ED’s website at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/whitephysed/applicant.html.

Hopefully you’ve prepared up to this point, and already have much of the information you need to craft your winning application.  SPARK knows and understands what it takes to be a part of a winning PEP Grant proposal.  To date, more than 100 PEP grants have been awarded to organizations that chose to implement SPARK curriculum/training and equipment!

Contact a SPARK representative for a free cost proposal and for help writing SPARK into your grant submission. We want to make it easy for you to implement SPARK and improve the quality and quantity of PE/PA at your site(s).

These federal monies are available to help schools improve their physical education, and/or after school, and/or nutrition programs. You see the pattern – countering childhood obesity by increasing activity opportunities and empowering kids to make good food choices. The idea is prevention, and you know what they say about an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure? Rings true here. The cost of treating obesity related illnesses makes up a large percentage of our healthcare budget. If we can get ahead of the game by investing dollars now to prevent diseases from occurring later, we ALL benefit.

If you know a school or district that might like new curriculum materials, teacher training, equipment and more, won’t you encourage them to visit the pep grant information page and search for the information they need to apply? Submissions are due July 19th so there is no time to waste!

SPARK is proud to have already worked with more than 100 PEP winners to date! Maybe you or someone at a school you know is next? Then you can join the PEP squad and shout a cheer for quality, evidence-based physical education for every child!

The Healthy People objectives for the nation have included goals for active PE since at least 1990. The health objective of ensuring at least 50% of PE class time is spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is specific and measurable. This objective, and others recommending sufficient quantity of PE, demonstrate that the Department of Health and Human Services sees school PE as an important partner in improving children’s health. It looks like these objectives will be carried over into Healthy People 2020. The rationale for these objectives is simple. Many or most young people are endangering their health by not meeting physical activity guidelines, and PE is the only part of the school day that can ensure ALL students get some physical activity. It is well documented that, too often, only a small portion of PE class time is spent in MVPA, so meeting the MVPA objective could help the health of millions of children. During the obesity epidemic, it is essential to use every opportunity to help kids be active, and PE is at the top of the list—again, because it is the only opportunity that can affect all kids.

I have been lamenting in talks and conversations for many years that I do not know of any national, state, or local educational agency that has adopted the 50% MVPA guidelines. For 20 years, the public health field has asked, encouraged, and begged education agencies to make sure kids are active in PE. NIH has spent many millions of dollars on SPARK, MSPAN, CATCH, Pathways, TAAG, and LEAP to demonstrate that active PE is feasible and effective in elementary, middle, and high schools. Yet for 20 years the education field has ignored public health’s pleas, and those of us in public health do not really understand the resistance to helping kids become healthier.

Here is the good news. The barrier has been broken. A ray of hope is shining that may mean public health and education can work toward the shared goal of adopting policies of 50% MVPA in PE. I heard a presentation of results from Bridging the Gap, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-supported research program. Bridging the Gap reviewed written school wellness policies in a national sample of schools. They reported what percent of students were in districts that had a strong policy to require 50% MVPA. A strong policy required action, had an implementation plan, and used words like shall, must, and enforce. To my surprise, the result was not zero. The number was only 6-7%, but it was above zero. This looks like a good outcome of the federally-mandated school wellness policies. However, now someone needs to check on whether these strong policies are actually leading to improved PE. Note that I am ignoring the 22-29% of students in districts with weak policies, because they don’t mean anything. Download the Bridging the Gap report on wellness policies.

These few districts are leading the way to healthier and higher quality PE. My hope is that other districts will follow their lead. Then state departments of education will decide this policy is worth adopting. Then state departments and districts will provide staff development, curriculum, and equipment to ensure all the teachers can reach this goal and the other goals of PE. Then perhaps we will meet the Healthy People 2020 objective, PE classes across the country will be more active, and children will be healthier. This is what we are working toward with SPARK.

Jim Sallis
www.drjamessallis.sdsu.edu

The ancient Greeks had it right all along – Healthy kids are better learners. Today, the data are not Spartan, they are plentiful and rigorously support this theory. While this blog post has an enjoyable and light-hearted description, there is an underlying sense of urgency here: Michelle Obama is on board, galvanizing efforts to combat childhood overweight and obesity. However, a myth exists that must be dispelled: Time away from the classroom engaging students in a quality physical education/activity program means less time for academics and therefore, lowers test scores. The data show this is not true!

Studies will open the eyes of your colleagues. One in particular showed that elementary age students participating in a high activity, well integrated PE program (SPARK) did as well or BETTER on their standardized tests over a period of three years. Click Here for the paper.

But that’s only one side of the calorie balance issue. Not paying attention to the food served on campus is a recipe for disaster. Every school should foster an environment that is conducive to learning. Consuming high fat foods are not only unhealthy, they make children sluggish and shorten attention spans. One of the best ways schools can boost learning and increase standardized test scores, is by properly preparing the bodies, as well as the minds, of their students. Better sleep, more energy, and greater focus are just the beginning. The data also support increased self-esteem and self-confidence in students who participate in PE with an adequate weekly dosage. Additionally, PE can teach, assess, and reinforce positive social skills, and this acquisition transfers to the classroom and may reduce discipline problems. Another impressive benefit of a wellness promoting environment is that healthy students have fewer absences. More days on campus support learning AND boost average daily attendance (ADA) and site revenue.

So next time someone wants to pin you against the Trojan Wall, forcing you to plead your case to keep your PE program, remember what Aristotle said: He’s on your side, and so is SPARK!

We’ve also created a section on our website that provides PE resources (articles, publications, webinars) which support the link between Physical Activity and Academics.

New 3-6 PE Curriculum Activity Videos
We’ve recently added 10 more activity videos for you in the 3-6 PE Curriculum Resources. My favorites happen to be Map Challenges and Movement Bands but you’ve got plenty to choose from.

Some quick tips for video play. Windows Media Videos are smaller and play more quickly. We suggest you download the video to your computer and play them from your hard drive. This tends to be faster and takes less of your computers resources.

Windows users – right click on the file and choose “save target as…”
Mac users – hold “Control” key and click the file to choose “download linked file as…”

GYM Activities Highlight – Bean Bag Golf (Math in Motion K-6)
Our talented graphic artist Maggie Price has revamped the instructional aides for this activity and I think you’ll like them! Check out the Golf Obstacles…

SPARKfit Additions – Assessment Tools
Check out the recently revised Journal Pages and President’s Challenge Resources.

Activity of the Month – SPARKfamily.org Equipment Discount
Finally we’re happy to announce the Activity of the Month and a special discount program just for SPARKfamily.org members! This month’s activity is Jumping Color Tag.

This is the first month of our Activity of the Month feature and you’ll notice a new link at the top of every SPARKfamily.org page. SPARKfamily.org members not only benefit from these resources – they can also purchase the equipment used in this activity at a 20% discount!

When you login you’ll find a link to this discount code at the top of the right Quick Links menu. Remember – this specialty discount is only for SPARKfamily.org Members.

Not a SPARKfamily.org member yet? Click Here for more information and to receive a FREE trial!

As always, thanks for the opportunity to serve both you and your students!

Enjoy,

Aaron Hart
Development Manager
SPARKfamily.org Member

The report, titled Solving the Problem of Childhood Obesity Within a Generation, includes Early Childhood Education, Physical Education and Physical Activity recommendations. SPARK is already well aligned with the recommendations in this report!

Click Here for the full report.

Early Childhood Education

“Young children need opportunities to be physically active through play and other activities. Physical activity assists children in obtaining and improving fine and gross motor skill development, coordina¬tion, balance and control, hand-eye coordination, strength, dexterity, and flexibility—all of which are necessary for children to reach developmental milestones.
Preschool years, in particular, are crucial for obesity prevention due to the timing of the development of fat tissue, which typically occurs from ages 3-7…. Features of the child care center environment, including policies regarding activity and provider training, as well as the presence of portable and fixed play equipment, influence the amount of physical activity children engage in while at child care.”

• SPARK Early Childhood is designed specially for children ages 3-5 years to increase physical activity and development
• SPARK EC was one of the first large-scale, urban efforts to evaluate a comprehensive physical activity program for the 3-5 age group. The project concluded in winter 2004, and showed the SPARK EC program was very well received by the Head Start teachers, increased students’ moderate to vigorous activity levels to over 50% of class time, and improved the number of minutes children engaged in activity throughout the day.

School-Based Approaches to Increasing Physical Activity

“Schools are a key setting to focus on, given the significant portion of time children spend there. Schools can undertake a combination of strategies and approaches to help children be more active including:
- Creating infrastructure and policies that increase access to and encourage physical activity for all students;
- Collecting valid and reliable data and using analytical tools and systems to understand student needs and fitness levels, and promoting approaches that are effective in changing physical activity behaviors and, ultimately, health outcomes;
- Maintaining strong physical education (PE) programs that engage students in moderate to vigorous physical activity for at least 50% of PE class time;
- Providing a variety of activities and specific skills so that students can be physically active not just during class but throughout the day and year; and
- Providing qualified school professionals who are trained in teaching methods to engage stu¬dents in PE, including for students who face greater barriers to activity.”

• SPARK physical education and activity programs have been proven to increase levels of MVPA, physical fitness, motor skill development, student enjoyment of the program and academic achievement
• SPARK was recently identified as a successful model for combating childhood obesity in the report, “Fighting Obesity: What Works, What’s Promising” by the HSC Foundation. The report speaks of SPARK’s history, practice, and methods. SPARK was the ONLY program recommended for physical education AND physical activity.
• SPARK is the ONLY National Institute of Health (NIH) researched program available providing coordinated curriculum, training, follow up support, and equipment for Pre-K through 12th grade teachers.
• A Child Trends report titled “What Works for the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity Among Children”, highlights SPARK as a program that has proven to increase physical activity among students.

Physical Education

“Physical Education (PE) is considered the cornerstone of a school-based comprehensive physical activity program. It provides the basis and opportunity for young people to gain the knowledge and skills needed to maintain physically active lifestyles throughout childhood and into adulthood. A quality PE program can increase student participation in physical activity, increase their physical fitness, and enhance their understanding about the purpose and methods of physical activity. Participation in daily PE is associated with an increased likelihood of participating regularly in moderate to vigorous physical activity.”

• SPARK Physical Education is an award-winning, research-based program that has been proven to increase activity levels, knowledge, skills, and fitness. SPARK elementary physical education is the ONLY nationally-disseminated program that positively affects ALL of these student outcomes:
  • Academic Achievement
  • Activity levels (moderate to vigorous surpasses 50% of class time)
  • Fitness achievement
  • Sport Skills development
  • Enjoyment of PE

• SPARK’s the only PE program that has data to show students statistically significantly increase their Fitness gram scores.
• SPARK activities can be integrated throughout the school day to help your school provide physical education daily

Nutrition Education

“More, and better, nutrition education is needed in many schools. While approximately 75% of schools require nutrition education as part of health curriculum requirements, the time spent on nutrition and dietary behavior has declined in recent years, and funding has been limited. Many teachers are not equipped with the skills and knowledge to integrate and promote nutrition education into their classroom curricula. Research has shown that nutrition education interventions, if well designed and effectively implemented can improve dietary behaviors.”

• SPARK has teamed up with Healthy Kids Challenge and Healthy Lifestyle Choices to provide nutrition and health education curriculum and training programs
• Healthy Kids Challenge is a nationally recognized non-profit led by an exemplary team of registered, licensed dietitians with many years of school, program, and community wellness experience
• Healthy Lifestyle Choices curriculum is flexible and provides a variety of scheduling and implementation options for busy elementary teachers