Stop Obesity! Get Fit With a Friend

Stop Obesity! Get Fit With a Friend lesson plan

Exercises are ever so much more fun when you do them with a friend! Together, create a fitness course that’s fun AND healthy.

  • 1.

    Childhood obesity is an epidemic. Eating too much non-nutritious food and doing too little physical activity can lead to obesity. Being overweight is uncomfortable and unhealthy for youth and adults. Exercise is one way to stay healthy.

  • 2.

    <STRONG> Work out a workout</STRONG>. What can you do to keep fit? With a partner, decide what exercises will be in your routine. Include warm-ups, stretches, some yoga, and aerobic (heart-pounding) activities. With Crayola® Erasable Colored Pencils, list your favorites. Mix and match a varied, balanced program.

  • 3.

    <STRONG>S-t-r-e-t-c-h!</STRONG> Cut cards from posterboard with Crayola scissors. Use Crayola Markers to draw simple figures doing stretches. Use arrows and words to show what to do. One stretch for two is to sit facing each other legs apart, feet touching, holding each other’s wrists. Gently take turns pulling back and forth.<STRONG> Never pull or push beyond what’s comfortable and stop if anything hurts. </STRONG>

  • 4.

    <STRONG>Design activity boards</STRONG>. On recycled foam produce trays, draw simple figures doing each activity, such as jumping jacks or running in place. Write the number of times you want to do each exercise. Decorate the edges to make a set. With Crayola School Glue, attach two craft sticks to the back of each board. Air-dry the glue. Roll Crayola Model Magic into balls. Press craft sticks into the balls so your boards will stand up. Air-dry overnight.

  • 5.

    <STRONG>Set up a course! </STRONG>Stand activity boards and place stretch cards around the course. On a blank recycled foam produce tray, record your times and other statistics with markers. It’s time to stay in shape!

Benefits

  • Students in pairs design a fitness course, drawing from their experience and research on exercise and obesity.
  • Students build an exercise track using recycled materials.
  • Students participate in a personalized fitness program.

Adaptations

  • Assessment: Each student keeps a fitness journal to record the number of times they exercise a week, amount of time, type of exercises, plus any personal goals.
  • Tie geography and fitness together by researching fitness practices throughout history and in different areas. Present a program on "World Fitness" highlighting various unique activities.
  • Campaign for your school to participate in a national fitness program such as Jump for Heart.
  • Identify foods that contribute to rapid weight gain and foods (and portions) that help maintain a healthy weight.