3^rd Grade School Day Average Step Counts

The above graph is an average step count for students in grade 3 in an urban setting of a class of 18 students during a two week period from April 23^,2007 to May 4, 2007. Although this was not a controlled study, it is still interesting to look at the results.

I thought it might be interesting to have a discussion about what might have caused the peeks and valleys.

First, the step counts were taken within the class by the classroom teacher at the end of each day. Each student used the same pedometer each day. Also, each student recorded their own step counts daily for two weeks. The last 4 days are from week 2 of the time period, as there was no school on that Thursday due to teacher workshop.

Our school has Physical Education 1 time per week for 45 minutes in grade 3, and teachers are encouraged to provide a 20 minute recess on all other days. Students participate in a reading program each day for a 90 minute period of time.

It might also be prudent to note that all daily averages are skewed lower by those students who reset their pedometers during the day. This occurred daily with the same number of incidents each time. That means the daily averages were skewed consistently downward approximately - 500 steps.

What caused the peaks and valleys in the average school day step counts shown above?

Apparently, the Higher scores on the chart indicated days when students had Physical Education. This was also consistent with the results found when performing a similar pedometer student with a second grade class earlier.

If we assume that students need to achieve the 10,000+ steps a day to benefit their health and wellness then according to the numbers above, (for my school and this class), students would need to average about 7000 steps before or after school. This would be nearly impossible unless they were active at a moderate intensity or higher for over 2 hours.

When doing this student with the second grade something interesting happened. When the students developed in class strategies for increasing their step counts during school, they were able to achieve a number approaching 5000 steps a day during school for the day following the strategy session, This equaled the impact felt when they were provided Physical Education. It was interesting to note that the strategies only worked to increase the step counts for the day immediately following the strategy session.

If we could somehow get student step counts for in school activity level to approximate 5000 steps, then it would be more likely or reasonable to achieve the 10,000+ steps needed for the day.

2nd grade results (PPT)

What does this indicate? And what further research needs to be done?

There really is no indication of any importance other than to the students in that particular class, that is why I spent time reviewing the results with the class and asking the questions: Why do you think the graph shows higher step counts on two days, and lower on one? (buddy buzz, or "Think Pair Share", "Toe in")

Some neat answers came out, like: More kids reset their pedometers on the day that is shorter. Kids were shaking the pedometer when the days were higher. We had no recess on the day with lower counts. (I think it actually rained that day). One group actually guessed that they had Physical Education on the two higher days.

Similar controlled studies need to be done that include strategy sessions as one of the variables need to be done. Also, the impact of PE on the students step counts seem to indicate a need for Daily PE, which similar control studies could substantiate.

Scott Tomassetti

Pe1.org

3rd Grade School Day Average Step Counts

3^rd Grade School Day Average Step Counts