An integrated curriculum approach to increasing habitual physical activity in children: a feasibility study.
A relatively new concept is that of "integrating" physical activity throughout the school curriculum, thereby teaching children about lifestyle physical activity in a variety of contexts. One method by which this may be achieved is by utilizing pedometers as a motivational and educational tool for measuring accumulated physical activity. No research is available that shows in-depth integration of physical activity into the curriculum or that investigates the efficacy of pedometer use for this purpose. The purposes of this study were to (1) design and implement a 4-week elementary school curriculum unit, based around pedometer walking and (2) quantify, using pedometry, the physical activity levels of children (N = 78) prior to, and during, the unit implementation. Results showed that more than one half of the participants were achieving >15,000 steps daily, and children were significantly more active on weekdays than weekends (p = .0001). Boys were more active than girls at baseline (p = .01) and during intervention weekdays (p = .03). Differences between baseline and intervention weekdays were nonsignificant for the complete sample; however, significant increases in step counts were observed when the children with low activity levels, especially females, were examined separately. Overall, the integration of physical activity using pedometer-based activities is feasible. However, any increases in activity may be restricted to children who are least active.
Oliver
Melody
M
Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, HR (AR Block), Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1020, New Zealand. melody.oliver@aut.ac.nz
Schofield
Grant
G
McEvoy
Erin
E
D002648:Child; D003479:Curriculum; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity; D010507:Periodicity; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking