At West Creek Hills Elementary, Chris Skaugen's goal is to get students exercising 30 minutes each day. Sure, there is recess, and physical education — the standard stuff. But he wanted something more.
Using a Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge grant, West Creek bought Dance Dance Revolution equipment for physical education and for teachers to use in the classroom as opportunity arises.
"Without Highmark Healthy High 5," Skaugen says, "I don't believe we could have provided this to the students."
Dance Dance Revolution is fun, rhythmic — and a trifle complicated. So when Skaugen began using it, he was concerned about the students' varying abilities.
"I was a little bit worried about how they would follow it," he says. But the students like it so much, and try so hard, that improvements in coordination are observed in all students, regardless of physical or academic ability. "When a student is impacted this way," he says, "that's great.
"What's more," Skaugen adds, "I would expect the girls to catch on and enjoy the dancing. But, because of the video game and competitive aspects, the boys are equally enthusiastic about participation."
Dance Dance Revolution has been such a success that kids want to play at home with their parents.
"They've changed their minds about exercise," Skaugen says, "because they're doing things they like."
"When parents ask where they can buy Dance Dance Revolution," he adds, "I know that a child's interest in physical activity has improved."
Learn how to encourage kids to exercise daily for good health by reading our Physical Activity pages.
Learn more about Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge grants.
This story was originally published in an April 5, 2009, advertising supplement for Highmark Healthy High 5.