InstantInstant RecessRecess
“I’m crazy for pickles, but I like Instant Recess better”
--2--2ndnd grader grader
Diana Diamant, Kate Lundquist, and Barnaby Ohrstrom
Supervised by Dr. Bob Swoap
Why Why NOWNOW??
Obesity Rates in the US
What has changed?
1980 2008Children w/ obesity (ages 6-11) 6.5% 19.6
%Overweight adolescents (ages 12-19)
5.0% 18.1%
then
then
then
then
now
now now
now
Physical Activity in Schools
then
U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services:In 2006, only 8% of
students were offered daily physical activity in
schools
Why Why Instant RecessInstant Recess??"We've engineered exercise out of our daily "We've engineered exercise out of our daily lives. Now we have to engineer it back in.” lives. Now we have to engineer it back in.”
**
*Shellie Pfohl, executive director of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, & Nutrition
What is Instant Recess?• Instant Recess (IR) is a 10-minute physical activity break
designed for everyday use by everybody, anywhere, anytime, in any attire. IR– is a unique fusion of popular culture and science to
promote physical and mental fitness.– involves movement of major muscle groups to increase
blood flow throughout the body & burn calories.– re-invigorates teachers and students to feel more alert and
increase their energy levels.
Why IR? “So you don’t just be fat in a chair”—1st grader
Why Why Instant RecessInstant Recess??“Getting kids to sit shoulder to shoulder for six hours a
day is not going to do it,” Dr. Yancey said. “Even in schools that still have 30-minute periods of physical
education or recess, many children get only about five
minutes of moderate to vigorous activity.”
Everybody up!Everybody up!(Instant Recess:(Instant Recess:Reggae break)Reggae break)
“IR is to get you active so you are not just sitting in a seat doing nothing.”—1st Grader
Research Questions:Research Questions:
How easily can Instant How easily can Instant Recess be implemented in Recess be implemented in
and elementary school?and elementary school?
What are the effects of What are the effects of Instant Recess on Instant Recess on
students?students?
MethodMethod
ProcedureProcedure• Determined parameters of the study
• Received informed consent from Principal Morgan
• Spoke with teachers and gauged interest
• Met in January and taught teachers how to do Instant Recess
WD Williams Elementary SchoolSwannanoa, NC
•13 out of 23 teachers participated during the 8-week study
•Kindergarten - 5th Grade (all grades represented; approx. 22 students per classroom)
ParticipantsParticipants
Data CollectionData Collection• Research Assistants observed classrooms
before, during and after IR
• Teachers’ documentation• When IR break was implemented• Specific IR break used• Teacher observations
• Interviews• Individual students• Teachers• Classes
Data AnalysisData Analysis• Preliminary qualitative phenomenological
data analysis
• Triangulation-”cross-checking” information and conclusions through the use of multiple procedures or sources*
• Major trends in the data
• * Milinki, A. K. (1999). Cases in qualitative research. Los Angeles, CA: Pyrczak Publishing.
ResultsResults
ImplementationImplementation• Teacher participation
• Technology
• Spacing
• Schedule
Short-term EffectsShort-term Effects
“It helps get the wiggles out before a test and calms me down”—2nd grader
•Quick transitions back to work
•Increased on-task behavior
•Decreased hyperactivity
•Improved mood
Long-term EffectsLong-term Effects
• More physically fit
• Increased coordination
• Improved mood by mastery
• Increased understandingof Instant Recess
DiscussionDiscussionImplications
• Positive effect of physical activity in schools
Limitations
• Not a random sample
• Time constraints
• Pilot study
• Strategies to maximize IR to meet the needs of individual populations
• Creating more videos based on student recommendations
• Ease of teacher documentation
• Quantitative data
Future DirectionsFuture Directions
Acknowledgements• Dr. Bob Swoap
• Dr. Toni Yancey
• Principal Morgan
• Teachers at WD Williams
• Students
