20 Mar USA Track & Field Foundation and HealthTeacher Bring Interactive Classroom Game ‘Run With US!’ to Schools Nationwide to Encourage Physical Activity in Kids’ Daily Lives
Olympic-caliber athletes team up to address the ever-growing lack of physical activity in kids’ daily lives, focusing on bringing more physical activity into classrooms with interactive gaming.
Nashville, TN (PRWEB) – Reprinted by Permission
On the heels of the its national GoNoodle launch during the Partnership for Healthier America Summit and SXSWedu Conference, HealthTeacher, Inc. is making Run With US!, its track and field classroom game created in partnership with the USA Track & Field Foundation (USATFF), available to every elementary teacher for free in order to help young kids get more physical activity throughout the school day.
Beginning March 20th, Run With US! will start its national circuit to bring real track and field stars to elementary classrooms to demonstrate the impact short bursts of desk-side activities can have on youth health and classroom engagement. As part of the launch, teachers and parents alike can enter to win a school visit from a USA track and field athlete.
Part of the GoNoodle suite of brain-break games, Run With US! is an interactive track and field game featuring Olympic-caliber athletes designed to help kids gain important minutes of physical activity towards the recommended 60 minutes daily, as recently put forth by First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Active Schools initiative and the Centers for Disease Control’s Burn to Learn programs. What’s more, Run With US! is a great teacher tool to improve student energy, focus, and behavior.
“Run With US! is a unique and fun way to help kids stay active and healthy. This incredible program combines three of my passions: youth health, fitness, and track & field,” said Joanna Hayes, Gold medalist hurdler in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and one of the Run With US! virtual coaches. “I can’t think of a more exciting or convenient way to put those three things together in a classroom setting.”
Run With US! is based on cutting-edge research in physical activity that shows short exposure to exercise yields meaningful improvements in energy, focus, and classroom behavior. With this in mind, Run With US! was designed to give teachers an effective way to re-engage students in a matter of minutes. Focusing gameplay to five minutes or less means it’s easy to incorporate the game into an already-packed schedule. What’s more, Run With US! can be played multiple times throughout the school day to invigorate students’ minds and engage them in core subjects like math, English, and science.
“Schools play a particularly critical role by establishing a safe and supportive environment with policies and practices that support healthy behaviors,” said Scott McQuigg, CEO of HealthTeacher, Inc. “And through our partnership with the USA Track & Field Foundation, track and field athletes are helping students get important minutes of moderate and vigorous physical activity in the classroom. Combining interactive games with health education teaches kids how to be more physically active in new and imaginative ways, and through repeated use, Run With US! can measurably help build positive lifestyle habits that extend beyond the classroom.”
Olympic medalists and and aspiring Olympic track and field athletes, through the use of Run With US!, will inspire kids to move more throughout the school day while providing teachers a way to improve classroom energy, focus, and behavior.
“The Track & Field and Running community is uniquely positioned to drive meaningful, measurable change in the health of our nation’s youth,” said Jack Wickens, Vice-Chair of USATFF, “and we especially believe in the inspiring power of first-class athlete role models.”
Already used by thousands of teachers during its private beta, Run With US! is now available for free to every elementary teacher. To use Run With US!, teachers simply need internet access and a screen, projector or interactive whiteboard. Using the space around their desks, kids are coached by track and field athletes as they work their way through various track and field events. Teachers can sign-up to use Run With US! for free at runwithus.org.
About Run With US!
Part of the GoNoodle suite of desk-side movement activities and brain-break games, Run With US! connects Olympic-caliber athletes with students to coach desk-side track and field activities, like running in place. Kids compete in qualifiers as they work up to the world championship and earn virtual medals along the way. Powered by HealthTeacher, Inc., Run With US! was created in partnership with the USA Track and Field Foundation. To learn more, visit runwithus.org.
About GoNoodle
GoNoodle is a research-based classroom resource for elementary teachers to improve student engagement and youth health through desk-side movement activities and brain-break games. Helping to increase energy and focus while improving classroom behavior, GoNoodle games include Run With US!, developed in partnership with the USA Track & Field Foundation, To the Maximo, Boogie Down, and Airtime, all of which can be played on an interactive whiteboard or computer. GoNoodle is powered by HealthTeacher, Inc, the interactive leader in youth health. Learn more at gonoodle.com
About USA Track & Field Foundation
The USATF Foundation provides a means to attract and guide funds to new and innovative track and field programs with an emphasis on providing opportunities for youth athletes, emerging elite athletes, distance training centers and anti-doping education. The Foundation depends upon donations from its Board of Directors, major gifts, and from generous fans of track & field. Learn more at rwus-now.org and usatffoundation.org
PRESS CONTACTS
Alicia Benjamin, 720-940-8572
Director of Interactive Media & Communications
HealthTeacher, Inc.
alicia.benjamin@healthteacher.com
Tom Jackovic, 412-398-2484
Executive Director
USATF Foundation
tom.jackovic@usatf.org