In Farmington, Minnesota, Meadowview Elementary has gone leaps and bounds ahead of, well, most of the country, in changing the school’s culture of physical activity. According to the Star Tribune of Minneapolis, in an effort to raise test scores, Meadowview handed the reins to P.E. teacher, Joe McCarthy.

Each morning for months, McCarthy had the students spend 15 minutes running or shuttling from side to side in the gym. It wasn’t any type of punishment, but part of a growing trend in education that focuses on increased physical activity to improve learning.

Continue reading to learn so much more!

Recently, numerous studies coming out of the CDC, Harvard, The University of Illinois, and, as cited in a previous post, the University of Rome, have routinely found that increased physical activity helps to improve retention and concentration, thereby affecting academic skills (i.e., reading and math) and test scores. In fact, in Naperville, Illinois – a western suburb of Chicago – they are setting the pace for the kind of academic standards educators would like to see throughout the entire country!

In 1999, a few years after starting an emphasis on physical education, Naperville students were tested and ranked sixth in math and first in science — in the world.

IN THE WORLD! Time to sit up and take note because Meadowview Elementary and Naperville Central High are two incredible role models for schools everywhere. If you think your kids are needing that extra incentive, consider what GeoPalz has to offer!

Oh my goodness! Here at GeoPalz we are so excited by the efforts of Sarah Wu, dubbed Mrs. Q on her blog: Fed Up With Lunch. Having taught in the Chicago school system, Sarah became exposed to the shockingly poor quality of food available to students. And, it’s not just Chicago that has this problem. Schools all over the country are failing to provide students with healthful options and wellness education, thereby contributing to the obesity epidemic and the growing confusion surrounding food, in our society. Enough is enough – and Mrs. Q encourages parents to declare it!

If moms and dads can all work together to take small steps to make healthy changes at school, I believe we have the chance to change — and even reverse — troubling trends in wellness and obesity.

Taken from Babble.com

Sarah wrote a book based on her experience, entitled: Fed Up with Lunch: The School Lunch Project: How One Anonymous Teacher Revealed the Truth About School Lunches – And How We Can Change Them! That’s right, Sarah walked away from the experience with thoughtful approaches to encourage change. In a recent article, featured on Babble, Mrs. Q listed her Top 5 Suggestions of actions parents can take to improve school lunches.

1. Start a school wellness committee

…Such a committee can seek to improve school lunches, research alternatives to candy fundraisers (such as the GeoPalz donation platform!), find out what’s sold in vending machines, and advocate for change in policies surrounding classroom treats.

2. Rally for salad bars

3. Request ingredient transparency

4. Fight to increase eating time

5. Encourage nutrition education

For greater detail on each endeavor read on…

Sarah’s efforts are incredibly inspirational and each suggestion for change would go a long way in improving kids’ health. They are our future people – let’s show them we care!

An exciting new study by Italian researchers at the University of Rome has found that not only are academic exercises influential in supporting improved test scores in students, but also physical activity can produce as much as a 10% bump in both processing speed and concentration skills.

Maria Chiara Gollatta, an author of the study – published in the March issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise - told reporters,

Schoolteachers frequently claim that students lose attention and concentration with prolonged periods of academic instruction. The key elements of learning, particularly important during development, are attention and concentration. Our study examined the relationship between exertion and the attention and concentration levels of schoolchildren.

Taken from classroompd.globalclassroom.us

The results of this study certainly encourage researchers and schools to give more in depth consideration to the value of physical education! Not to mention, encouraging kids and families to include more physical activity in their lives, in hopes of encouraging all around wellness.

Click here to read and learn more

So, sit up, take note, and get out in the world with GeoPalz!

As a former city dweller, I am adamant in my conviction that hiking can take place any time and anywhere! Yes, now, a love of nature and hiking has relocated me to the foothills of the Flatirons. That being said, having lived in southern Wisconsin, downtown Chicago and central LA, I can assure you that a good hike is just out your front door.

While many people live in relatively flat areas, a hike does not require a winding, mountain path. Rather, all you need is a curiosity about your environment – be it rural, suburban, or urban – and an enthusiasm to explore it. Most rural areas include endless stretches of farmland and densely wooded forests. As a child, I spent weekends traversing the circumference of Wisconsin’s lakes and exploring the woods around my home. Suburban environments contain quiet neighborhoods, parks, arboretums, and are often a bike (or, car) ride away from beautiful, forest preserves. Working in Los Angeles, meant an hour car ride to get deep into nature. Closer to home, the stunning Santa Monica hills were filled with hikes that led to breathtaking views of the city. When I felt compelled to take in the city sights, an urban hike through Koreatown, Downtown LA, or along the Venice canals and boardwalk proved exciting and fun.  And, I’m not the only Angeleno to search out  significant sights in the city!

Dan Koeppel became interested in urban hiking after discovering an old, public staircase in Silver Lake, which he used during his regular exercise routine. The interest led to him creating The Big Parade, a two-day hike from Downtown LA to Griffith Park. Are you wondering if something similarly awesome exists near your home?

Image from kcet.org

For those who might be considering the argument that LA always has beautiful, warm weather – long underwear and a good hat take you a long way! I’ve done glorious, brisk urban hikes – and trips to city parks – during Chicago’s frigid winters. Seeing one of the Great Lakes dotted with ice or walking through a silent, snow covered park is too good to pass up!

So get out there, enjoy, and take GeoPalz along for the adventure!