Children to gain from fun and games
Getting physically active will literally be fun and games for students at three South West primary schools, thanks to a joint project between the Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC).
13 November 2008
Clifton Park, Dalyellup and Busselton primary schools will take part in a pilot of the Classroom Games project, which will see two teachers from each of the schools receive a resource pack to conduct the ASC's "Play for Life" games.
The schools will run the games over the next six weeks during their allocated time for physical activity, and teachers will self evaluate the program.
DSR Regional Officer South West Dale Nielsen and ASC Regional Coordinator for Active After-school Communities Natasha Grosse will visit the schools to observe the program and provide support for the teachers.
Ms Nielsen said while it may all look like ‘fun and games', there were some serious benefits for students to gain from participating in physical activity.
"We believe that by providing very busy teachers with easily accessible, well illustrated and easy to read "Play for Life" cards and equipment; they will be more likely to use a variety of active games which provide not only physical activity but many other learning opportunities for students within their class," Ms Nielsen said.
"It is hoped that the teachers, as well as the students, will enjoy the range of games and have a better understanding that exercise can be lots of fun as well as improving our children's health and learning outcomes."
Following the evaluation of the pilot program and depending on its success, it is hoped other schools will follow suit and actively promote the program. It is envisaged that the Classroom Games Resource Packs may attract corporate support for expansion of the project throughout the South West and beyond.
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