This Issue:

Table of Contents

Cover Story

Cover Story - Spanish Version

Mini-Lesson

Comprehension Quiz

Teacher's Guide and Worksheets

The New Gym

Spanish Translation

By Ritu Upadhyay

It's a sunny day, and 9-year-old Liza Parisaca is on the banks of Biscayne Bay in Miami, Florida. She pulls a life vest on over her T-shirt and cautiously climbs into the sailboat bobbing in the clear blue water. Today, the first-time sailor will learn how to tack, or change course, on the boat. "Ready?" asks the instructor. Liza nods her head. She steers the boat through the wind, and it changes direction smoothly. "I wasn't really scared," she says with a big grin.

This class in San Francisco, California is doing yoga.

This isn't an end-of-summer sailing trip. It's gym class for fourth and fifth graders at Riverside Elementary School. Riverside is one of many schools around the country that have begun adding fun, new activities to gym classes.

In schools like Riverside, gym class is no longer about lining up and choosing dodgeball teams. A new physical education (P.E.) movement helps kids find activities they'll enjoy so much that they'll stay active for the rest of their lives. The activities include yoga, cycling, martial arts, dance, kickboxing, in-line skating, using treadmills and even sailing and kayaking. The goal is to teach children sports and workouts that they can enjoy outside of school.

Judy Young, executive director of the National Society for Sport and Physical Education, believes that traditional gym classes need to shape up. "Kids will not be aware of how physical education carries over to their daily life if we don't teach them about how to stay active at home."

Time To Shape Up
The movement comes in response to studies that show kids are less active than ever before. A report released this month by the Institute of Medicine said American kids and adults need much more exercise. The report calls for at least an hour a day of some type of physical activity.

Most children do not even come close to meeting that standard! Fewer than one in four children gets even 20 minutes of vigorous activity daily. One in four kids gets no physical education in school, according to P.E. 4 Life, a group that promotes fitness for kids.

Kids' general activity level is at its highest in 10th grade but then slowly declines all the way into adulthood. "We want them to find something they can enjoy doing for a lifetime," says Dr. Jayne Greenberg, director of P.E. programs for the Miami-Dade County Schools.

In July, the government launched its own program to get America's children moving. The campaign, Verb: It's What You Do, shows kids ages 9 to 13 fun ways to get active. "Verb means action, and action is the focus of this campaign," said Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson.

It is part of President Bush's Healthier U.S. program. The President has been urging the country to exercise more because statistics show that too many Americans of all ages are overweight and unfit. "Better health is an important national goal," says the president. "A healthier America is a stronger America."

Something For Everyone
Many California elementary schools have cut back funding for P.E. programs. But San Francisco schools have responded by training teachers to "do gym" in the classroom. Cathy Klein, a second- grade teacher at Daniel Webster Elementary School, does yoga in her class every day. The students sit on a mat and practice poses like the anteater and the eagle. "The kids get really focused, and it relieves stress," she says. "After just three weeks, they are already going home and teaching their families as well."

Greenberg says the key to the new P.E. programs is that they work for all kids regardless of skill level. "Traditional P.E. programs tended to focus on competitive team sports and appeal mainly to the strongest athletes in the class," she says. In the sailing unit at Riverside, even disabled children take a turn as skippers of the boat. Says Greenberg: "Kids should never have to feel like they aren't good enough in their gym classes."

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Fitness Tips

Want to feel good, have fun and stay healthy? Here are some tips from Judy Young, executive director of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education.

Get moving: Exercise at least an hour every day. Kick a soccer ball, go for a family walk, practice a dance with a friend—whatever! Try new and varied activities so you work different muscles in your body.

Stick with it: Do one of your daily physical activities for at least 10 minutes at a time. Increase the time as you get stronger.

Set limits: Don't spend more than two hours a day sitting and playing computer games or watching TV.

Fuel up: Eat a balanced diet that includes grains, fruits and vegetables, dairy and lean meat or other protein foods. It's okay to have sweets sometimes, but never instead of a meal. Drink plenty of water every day.

Have fun: Exercise is more fun with a partner. Invite a friend or family member the next time you're ready for active play.

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