GoNoodle logo
[Children] are the future of our nation! Involvement in sport offers many life lessons that can lead to success in other areas of life.
(PRWEB) February 11, 2014
Missouri students are getting a lot more active these days, thanks to a sponsorship of GoNoodle by Mercy. With childhood obesity still the leading health issue affecting kids, the fact that many kids fall well below the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity, and research proving the benefits physical activity on learning, Missouri area schools are using the games and activities of GoNoodle, an interactive resource designed to get kids up and moving during the school day.
To reward the students and teachers at Zitzman Elementary for winning a national contest launched at The Alliance for Healthier Generation Conference, Olympic Silver Medalist Brigetta Barrett (London 2012) will join students as they play GoNoodle. Zitzman won the contest by generating 32,583 minutes of physical activity from over 685 physical activity breaks in the classroom last October.
(NOTE TO EDITORS: Barrett will visit Zitzman Elementary School on Friday, February 14, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. to lead students in GoNoodle physical activity breaks. The school is located at 255 South Indian Pride Drive, Pacific, MO. You are invited to send a reporter and/or photographer to capture the fun of this event.)
GoNoodle brings a series of interactive physical activity games and breaks right into the classroom. Each physical activity game of GoNoodle is designed to provide students 3-5 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity right next to their desks. Research proves that such short bursts of physical activity have positive health benefits and improve student engagement, behavior and achievement.
One of the GoNoodle physical activity breaks, “Run With US!”, features Olympians and Olympic caliber athletes leading students in virtual track and field events built in collaboration with the USA Track and Field Foundation. Brigetta Barrett, who will lead Run With US! activities at a school-wide assembly, represented the United States at the 2012 London Olympics and took home a silver medal in the high jump.
"I am very excited to come and share my life experience on and off the track with these kids; they are the future of our nation! Involvement in sport offers many life lessons that can lead to success in other areas of life, and I am honored to share them with the students at Zitzman Elementary," said Olympic Silver Medalist Brigetta Barrett.
In addition to the track and field game, GoNoodle includes dancing, stretching, and even calming exercises, along with games that incorporate spelling, vocabulary and math with physical activity. Teachers can learn more about GoNoodle by visiting http://www.gonoodle.com.
About GoNoodle
GoNoodle is a research-based classroom resource for elementary teachers to improve student engagement and youth health through desk-side physical activity breaks. Helping to increase energy and focus while improving classroom behavior, GoNoodle’s games can be played on an interactive whiteboard, projector or computer screen. GoNoodle is powered by HealthTeacher, Inc., the interactive leader in youth health. Learn more at gonoodle.com.
About Mercy
Mercy is the sixth largest Catholic health care system in the U.S. We serve more than 3 million people annually, have 33 acute care hospitals, four heart hospitals, two children’s hospitals, two rehab hospitals and one orthopedic hospital, nearly 700 clinic and outpatient facilities, 40,000 co-workers and more than 2,100 Mercy Clinic physicians in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has outreach ministries in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
