Being sedentary means sitting, or lying down, for long periods of time. Every class in Scoil Bhríde has agreed upon three or more actions to decrease sedentary time.
Each year during the month of November every pupil in the school completes the Active Break Every Day challenge. This is a whole school initiative that is run over a 4 week period. Activities included Go Noodle, Bizzy breaks, running laps, circuits, 10@10 to name but a few. This initiative was so successful we decided to embed it into everyday classroom life.
The pupils complete an extended classroom-based physical activity break on the days when they are unable to play outdoors. Luckily this year, we have been very fortunate with the weather and our break times. We also have an outdoor shelter where we can get some fresh air on wet days.
Each year during the month of November every pupil in the school completes the Active Break Every Day challenge. This is a whole school initiative that is run over a 4 week period. Activities included Go Noodle, Bizzy breaks, running laps, circuits, 10@10 to name but a few. This initiative was so successful we decided to embed it into everyday classroom life.
The pupils complete an extended classroom-based physical activity break on the days when they are unable to play outdoors. Luckily this year, we have been very fortunate with the weather and our break times. We also have an outdoor shelter where we can get some fresh air on wet days.
Movement Breaks
We have Activity Jars in each classroom. Throughout the day teachers or students pick an activity from the Activity Jar, and a time/amount from the Time Jar. Activities and times/amounts vary in each class to reflect the needs of the class level.
Activities include: squats, lunges, running on the spot, high knees, boxer punches, jumping jacks and active breaks such as walkway lap, 10@10, Go Noodle, playground break. In the Time Jar we have two different coloured lolly pop sticks inside the jar. Blue lolly pop sticks display a time in seconds/minutes.
Red lolly pop sticks display a number which signifies the number of repetitions for the exercise.
Activities include: squats, lunges, running on the spot, high knees, boxer punches, jumping jacks and active breaks such as walkway lap, 10@10, Go Noodle, playground break. In the Time Jar we have two different coloured lolly pop sticks inside the jar. Blue lolly pop sticks display a time in seconds/minutes.
Red lolly pop sticks display a number which signifies the number of repetitions for the exercise.
We also make use of Bizzy Breaks to create an active classroom and inspire our pupils to enjoy movement and build healthy habits for life.
Run around Ireland Challenge
In March each year we take part in the 'Run Around IRELAND' challenge. We measured our school walkway route and learned that 4 laps are equal to 1km. We really enjoy counting the kilometres and learning about Ireland's famous landmarks along the way. We find the challenge a great way to develop our motivation to keep moving. We really work hard to encourage each other to keep going even when we get tired.
Climb the Heights Challenge
In April/May each year the boys and girls undertake the Climb the Heights Skipping Challenge. Last year we made different length skipping ropes for each class to use at break and lunch time. The children record the number of skips or jumping jacks they complete each day in school and at home. Each skip or jump equals one metre. Gradually, we managed to climb all the mountains in Europe! The older classes also love using longer ropes to ‘jump rope’.
Active Break times in Ballyboy
We encourage all the children in Ballyboy to be as active as possible during break and lunch times. To promote active lunch breaks we provide the children with a range of equipment such as skipping ropes, hula hoops, basketballs, footballs, cones, rackets, mixed balls etc. 3rd and 4th class children are responsible for ensuring that all equipment is collected daily and correctly stored for use the following day.
Playground Leaders
This year 3rd and 4th class children took the opportunity to show their leadership skills and became the leaders. What a wonderful job they are doing organising fun games and activities for the younger children in the school.
Enterprise Week Active Challenges
Each year the children in 5th and 6th Class organise an ‘Enterprise Week’ where they work in groups to form mini businesses. We invite the children, parents and wider school community to come to school to enjoy a day of purchasing crafts and treats made by the children. The event is a culmination of months of hard work with the proceeds going directly to the children of our twin school in Ewuaso, Kenya. During ‘Enterprise Week’ the students also organise a variety of physical activity challenges and competitions for the rest of the school to participate in. In addition to being a wonderful opportunity for the children to help those less fortunate, it is also an invaluable way of developing their leadership skills. Being fully responsible for the planning, organising and overseeing of each event is an enormous task and one which the children thrive on each year. Some favourites each year include: Soccer Tournament, Gaelic Football Tournament, Long Puck Challenge, Johnny Sexton Rugby Challenge, Obstacle Course, Skipping Challenge…to name but a few!
