The Importance of Exercise

Introduction

The American Heart Association defines physical activity as anything that makes you move your body and burn calories. For overall cardiovascular health it is recommended that you participate in 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity at least 5 days per week. How many people can really say they do that? What really are the health benefits of exercise, and why should we make it appoint to fit it into our busy lives?

Task

In this project you will discover the many health benefits of exercising and exercising safely. You will follow the designated resources I have provided to determine why you must live an active life if you want to achieve a healthy lifestyle.

At the end of this project you will create an exercise plan for yourself because you will see what it takes to exercise effectively. You can plan out your week for two weeks around your schedule and then you will test out your plan. Throughout the two weeks you will keep a journal of what you have been doing to improve your overall health through exercise. Some of these things you may have previously done and will continue to do. At the very end of the journal you will reflect on how you feel when the two weeks are over as opposed to when you first started the two weeks. Then you will form groups of three to create a powerpoint that discusses the health benefits of exercise and how you were personally effected by your two week plan. You will be expected to present this in class.

Process

1. First you will be assigned to groups of 3 to do your research on exercise. You can divide up the sources amongst each other. Take notes inside your journals and share with each other.

2. Once this is completed, separate and use a weekly calendar to map out your day to day exercise plan. Bring it to me for approval so that I can assure you are planning for the appropriate amount of daily activity.

3. Spend the next two weeks following your plan and reflect daily on what exercises you did that day and how effective you felt they were.

4. Do a final reflection to discuss how you’ve changed your habits in two weeks.

5. Go back into your groups and discuss how your two weeks went and prepare for your group assignment.

6. You are asked to create a PowerPoint that covers the benefits of exercise- you can use your notes from your original resources which should already be in your journal. End the powerpoint with your personal opinion of how your two weeks of exercise went. Discuss what worked from person to person and what didn’t.

7. Present the PowerPoint to your classmates.

Links to the positive effects of exercise:

American Heart Association

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/PhysicalActivity/FitnessBasics/American-Heart-Association-Recommendations-for-Physical-Activity-in-Adults_UCM_307976_Article.jsp#.WMzhnoWcGhc

Evaluation

25% of your grade will be based on your journal entries.

25% of your grade will be based on your final 2 week reflection.

25% of your grade will be based on how well you cooperated with your group.

25% of your grade will be based on the finished PowerPoint. (All group members will receive the same grade.)

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4
Journal Entries	Over half of the journals are missing.	Up to 10 journal entries are missing but the included ones have good examples.	1-3 journal entries are missing, but the included ones give specific examples.	All journal entries are included and include specific examples of daily activities.
Final Reflection	The reflection isn’t as long as it should be and features so many grammatical errors that it is difficult to read.	The reflection isn’t as long as it should be.	The reflection is at least 2 pages but could use more details. There are a few grammatical errors.	The reflection is at least 2 pages and includes specific examples. It has little to no grammatical errors.
Cooperative Grade	Student caused dissention between group members and failed to collaborate.	Student didn’t cause a disturbance but failed to collaborate much with group members.	Student collaborated well but their role was unknown.	Student collaborated effectively and played a vital role in the group work.
Final PowerPoint	The PowerPoint barely covers the effects of exercise and not everyone’s 2 week experience is discussed.	PowerPoint includes effects of exercise but could use more detail. Not every group member’s 2 week experience is covered.	PowerPoint includes effects of exercise but could have used more detail. Every group member’s 2 week experience is covered.	PowerPoint includes the effects of exercise in great detail and covered every group member’s 2 week experience.

Conclusion

Since you have researched and have seen first-hand what following some simple steps can do to improve the quality of your life, you can now continue to do these if you wish.In completing this you now have more of the knowledge to keep, maintain, and improve your lifestyle for the rest of your life.

Credits

Thank you to the American Heart Association, Champs Academy, Peak Fitness, NHS Choices, Gatorade Sports Science Institute, and Web MD for your articles that contributed to the student's research.

Teacher Page

Purpose: The purpose of this lesson was to help students understand the necessity of exercise for a heathy life.

Rationale: Students should understand that exercise is essential to leading a healthy life. At 11-12 years old students are about to go through puberty, or already are, and it is important that they make exercise a habit now so that they don’t regret it later. They are setting the tone right now for the rest of their lives.

Learner Description: The WebQuest was designed for 6th grade students.

Prerequisites:

· Students must know how to navigate on a Web page.

· Students must know how to find and organize information and document the results.

· Students must know how to use PowerPoint.

Instructional Objectives:

· Students will gain a better understanding of the health benefits that come with exercising.

· Students will monitor their own exercise habits and make changes to improve their health.

Standards Addressed:

(PE.6.3.01) Students will participate in physical activity in addition to physical education class (e.g., maintain an activity log, activity gram).

(PE.S.4) Students will apply physical fitness concepts to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness.

(PE.6.5.01) Students will work cooperatively and productively in a group to accomplish a set goal/task.