Photo by Scott P. Dunn
Second grade students check out the “destination board” of the Fun Feet recess initiative.
A visit to the Spaulding School playground during second grade recess this year will show many Spaulding Stars participating in a walking/running club.
Entitled Fun Feet, this program brings together interested second graders in an initiative that strives to improve playground safety, increase students’ learning readiness and encourage a healthy lifestyle.
Students track their laps around an identified area on the playground lawn on their “way” to the destination of Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Students earn tokens (plastic fun feet) when they have “arrived” at specific destinations along the way; the tokens are based on the number of laps completed, which include places like the Empire State Building, Independence Hall and the Oatland Island Wildlife Center. Some students choose to run or walk a few laps per school day, while some are choosing to do it every day, eager to “reach” all the destinations, including the final one in Florida.
Students demonstrate kindness toward their peers by helping each other to punch cards and by cheering on their friends involved in the program. Second grade students have responded to this new recess program with excitement and energy.