When the whole school is involved in a DPA challenge or theme, the result can be fun for everyone (i.e., skipping theme, dance theme, aerobic theme etc.).
Challenges
One of the great ways to build spirit and create awareness regarding the benefits of physical activity is to have school wide activities or challenges. For example, J.R. Henderson Public School in Kingston organized a “Pass the Bass Challenge”. The school is very large, so they decided to expand the bass to include a chicken and a pig as well (fun, rubber versions of these three animals). Three different “paths” were chosen - the bass went in one direction, the chicken another and the pig a third. They each visited an equal number of classrooms. The animals started in Kindergarten classrooms first thing in the morning. They each arrived in a basket, with a camera for taking photos, a stopwatch and the “challenge”. Every class had to complete
the challenge, before the animal and challenge moved onto the next class. In this particular case, the challenge was a DPA session that included an activity in which the entire class was required to jump over rulers that were spread throughout the classroom. To add to the spirit of it, an administrator travelled with each of the animals and did the challenges with the students. If schools don’t want to do this as a “challenge”, the bass could make its way around the classrooms in a basket. The basket could contain a number of different fitness ideas, a camera and a list of the classes in the school. If the bass arrived at a
classroom, the teacher could either accept it or ask it to move on and come back at another time. If accepted, the class would stop what they were doing, do a DPA session, take a picture, record their class on the chart and then send it on to another classroom.
Activity Days
Once a month (or once a term) plan a school-wide activity day (e.g., Jump Rope for Heart, Hoops for Heart, Spec-tag-ular, Dance-a-thon, Olympics). This way, DPA can be planned around the ‘events’ related to the special activity day.
DPA Monthly Themes
Providing a monthly theme for DPA will support student ‘buy-in’ and keep everyone motivated to take part in the moderate to vigorous activities. Changing the way that DPA is delivered through various ‘themes’ will also support the sustainability of DPA.
Linking DPA to Seasonal Topics and Events
If possible, link DPA activities to seasonal events in the school community. This can provide a meaningful context for the students. For example, at Thorncliffe Park Public School in Toronto, students all learned the “Monster Mash” dance in their Physical Education classes before Halloween. The staff had a quick lesson at a staff meeting and they were ready to go. At a scheduled time, all students and staff moved to the double gymnasium, outside tarmac, classrooms and hallways and performed the Monster Mash as the music played over the school PA system. Listed below are some suggested seasonal topics:
- September - Terry Fox day, AIDS Walk Canada
- October - International Walk to School Day, Thanksgiving, Halloween
- November - National Home Fire Safety
- December - Christmas, Chanukah; Kwanzaa
- January - National Non-Smoking Week, Weedless Wednesday
- February - Heart Smart Month, Family Day, Winter Olympics
- March - School Traffic Safety Week, Easter
- April - World Health Day
- May - Canada Health Day, World No Tobacco Day, National Sneaker Day, Summeractive
- June - Bike Month, Canadian Environment Week, Bike to School Day, World Environment Day