Des Moines Public Schools and FitnessGram

Acquiring the ideal setup of roster integration with the FitnessGram software is key to streamlining and minimizing time spent managing rosters. With the right technology and support, importing FitnessGram rosters can become an efficient and smooth process that meets the needs of physical education teachers. Des Moines Public Schools shares their unique solution using Infinite Campus....

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Appropriate Warm-Up. Leave the “Old School” Thoughts Behind.

What is your preferred method of warming students up for activity? Running laps, jumping jacks, or static stretching? Your answer should be “none of the above”. This fit tip is going to focus on the appropriate way to get the body ready for physical activity....

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Cooper-Ready

Dr. Jeremy Lyon joins The Cooper Institute as the first president of the Cooper Youth Division. Lyon spent 31 years in the public education sector, advancing from teacher to coach then on to principal, and for the last 14 years as a superintendent. Most recently, Lyon helmed the Frisco Independent School District in Texas, one of the highest performing, fastest growing school districts in the nation. Lyon shares his vision for the future, building a healthier generation, and being Cooper-Ready....

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NFL Play 60 FitnessGram Project Champions Summit

The Cooper Institute® hosted its annual NFL Play 60 FitnessGram® Project Champion Summit in Dallas with some very special guests including Champions from 18 different NFL markets. The special event featured professional development training, guests from Fuel Up to Play 60 and the American Heart Association, and a special dinner at The Star, the Dallas Cowboys' World Headquarters in Frisco. The dinner also welcomed special NFL guests including former players Tommie Harris, Jacob Lacey, Shaun Smith and current NFL player Valerian Ume-Ezeoke for an all-star evening. Read on to learn more about the Summit, the program, and our impact on youth health....

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Building a Healthier Generation through Fitness Assessment

The generation we teach today are facing a serious health crisis. This is about as real as it gets – our youngest students are the first, ever, to be predicted to NOT outlive their parents. As physical education teachers, what we do today, and more importantly, how we do it, will make all the difference in the lives of countless students who cross our paths. It’s not just about checking the “PE” box, it’s about ensuring our students actually attain the physical literacy they need to be strong adults....

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Cooper Capitol Day

For many, childhood memories were full of games of tag, capture the flag during gym class, or unknowingly learning conflict resolution during recess, away from the watchful eye of a teacher. Today, many children are collecting far different memories. Instead of daily gym class, one in three children struggle through each day with obesity or being overweight. Instead of building social skills during recess, children are learning to manage type-2 diabetes....

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Strength Training for FitnessGram®

Students work hard to get into the Healthy Fitness Zone® in the muscular strength and endurance FitnessGram® tests, yet some remain in the Needs Improvement Zone. Strength (resistance) training activities are effective strategies physical education teachers can teach to help students improve their musculoskeletal FitnessGram® scores, and they can be fun in the process!...

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FitnessGram® in the Online Environment – How Does that Work?

With the growing trend of alternative options for receiving physical education credits, many schools, districts, and states are turning to online courses. The process of developing an online physical education course and integrating FitnessGram® assessments can be challenging, yet beneficial....

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FitnessGram Testing with Large Groups

Administering the FitnessGram assessment when you have a large number of students may seem overwhelming at first, but thoughtful preparation greatly reduces challenges on test day....

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Healthy Habits: Live them. Teach them.

In light of recent discussions around schools wanting to opt out of healthy school lunch programs, Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, Founder and Chairman of Cooper Aerobics, would like to take a moment to offer his point of view… Who Says Kids Won’t Eat Fruits and Veggies? Many families face serious health and weight challenges due to lack of proper nutrition and exercise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that since 1980, the percentage of overweight children ages 6 – 11 has doubled, and the percentage of overweight adolescents ages 12 – 19 has tripled. In addition, less than 25 pe...

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New Recommendations for Exercise in Children

As we mentioned last week, it is “back to school” time! So since we are on the topic of kids, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to present some recent research relating to their physical activity recommendations. You may be aware that the physical activity guidelines for kids differ from that of adults. Try to jog your memory. Do they need more or less than us adults? The answer (spelt backwards to give you a chance to answer it on your own)—EROM! Many people have the misconception that kids don’t have to worry about their health, however disease processes begin at these young ages and...

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Healthy Back-To-School Habits

Can you believe it is that time of the year again? Summer flew by (at least for me it did) and now your kids have either started school or will be in the next couple of weeks. Are you in the camp of jumping for joy or dreading it? Well I am in the camp of parents who are sending their firstborn off to Kindergarten. I can’t believe my little man is really a little man! Watching him run into his new school with a backpack the size of him without looking back will forever be burned in my memory. With this milestone of course not only came a mix of emotions but also a pretty significant change ...

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