‘Shape Georgia’ Works With Schools to Add 30 Minutes of Physical Activity

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According to a report produced for the Hispanic Health Coalition of Georgia (HHCGA), Latino students in Georgia have the lowest levels of physical activity, when compared to other groups. The state of Georgia recently ranked number 2 in the country for childhood obesity. In efforts to reduce this number, state officials are reaching out to school districts, through the Shape Georgia initiative, and asking them to grant elementary school children an additional 30 minutes of physical activity throughout the day.

30 minutes of Daily Physical Activity

They are asking schools to implement the 30 minutes of physical activity on a voluntary basis, in addition to the time children already spend in PE class. Schools like Sope Creek and Yargo Elementary have already seen great success by starting their own initiatives to bring more physical activity time to students.

Sope Creek and Yargo elementary Get Healthy Changes!

According to an article from Georgia Health News, students at Sope Creek elementary now receive an extra 20-30 minutes of physical activity, everyday before beginning with their academic coursework. Natalie Rogers, a parent and fitness enthusiast, worked together with the school’s P.E. teacher to create cardio routines for the students.The program is not madatory but the added minutes of physical activity has helped to improve students’ attention spans and students now take less time to complete their work. Rogers also worked to improve to the school’s lunch menu. According to Rogers, the additional physical activity time at Sope Creek is an example of a low cost program, that is not difficult to implement, and that other schools across the state can follow.

At Yargo elementary, fifth can participate in a running club that allows them to run for 30 minutes, before the school day starts. During this time they do drills like sprints and zig-zags which prepare them for the school day.

According to an April 2013, Georgia Health News article, public health officials sent out a letter to district Superintendents across the state, urging them to consider adopting a plan to give students 30 minutes of physical activity, in addition to PE time.

To learn more about what the Georgia Shape initiative has helped accomplish, read this news release, which reports a 5 percent drop in the state childhood obesity rate.