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Recess

Recess is a great opportunity to capture additional laps and/or provide structured minutes to recess.

Stefanie Ediger avatar
Written by Stefanie Ediger
Updated over a week ago

Utilizing recess is a great way to add structured movement and get kids moving.

You can facilitate the program during recess in a variety of ways. Here are three options:

1. Optional Extra Laps

Giving kids the option to run or walk laps during recess to count towards their overall mileage.

For example, let's say you currently use Marathon Kids during PE class. If you have a willing adult to either scan ID cards or monitor the scanning device, the kids that want to get extra laps would just need a copy of their ID card.

2. Structured Movement

Adding structured physical activity minutes to recess in some states can count towards the state-mandated Physical Education minutes.

For example, when teachers bring kids out to recess, use the first designated minutes to give kids time to run and walk laps. Then kids are released to free-choice recess time.

3. Run Club built into Recess

Utilize recess for a running club. Some Physical Education teachers have minimal class time with their students so they can't use Marathon Kids during PE so they opt to hold it during running club. These campuses tend to have Recess monitors to help facilitate the club and watch recess play.

Things to Consider and Do for a Recess Implementation:

Who is in charge?

The main person who started the Marathon Kids Club should take some time to learn how to use the program;

  • One suggestion is to manually add a few mock kids to practice scanning ID cards and reviewing the data.

  • Note: you can delete these "kids" and the mileage when you are ready to officially start.

Logistics

  • Who will participate?

  • When?

    • Length of time to run/walk time

    • Which day(s) of the week?

  • Define the lap space and know the lap distance.

    • ie. 5 laps equal a mile

  • What device will be used to scan ID cards?

    • Create a plan for how the device will get to and from recess.

      • Option: Classroom teachers can use their own personal devices or a device from their classroom.

Add a Track

Add a Recess Track to your account.

  • Name: Recess

  • Description: laps captured at recess

  • Lap distance: customize this to match your space

  • Why? Record all recess effort on the Recess Track in order to be able to pull a report of miles completed solely on this track.

    • Data to support Physical Education, state-mandated minutes, and view mileage earned during this "program" separately from the overall totals.

Print ID cards

  • Print a set of ID cards for those kids participating.

    • You can have multiple sets of ID cards.

    • Any Supporter of your account can scan any student in the club.

Add Supporters

Add Supporters to your account with the assistant coach permission.

  • This gives your classroom teachers, recess monitors, and/or volunteers access to log into the scanner app to start a live scanning session.

  • They will receive an email invitation to create their Marathon Kids account. Be sure they log into the web account at least one time to accept the role.

Scanner App

Teach the Supporters how to use the scanner app and scan ID cards.

Run!

  • Do a practice run with students so they know where to run and walk and how to scan their ID cards.

  • Then RUN, SCAN, REPEAT!

Celebrate and Reward

All mileage collected goes to helping your club reach its goal as well as each grade level, classroom, and individual increase their mileage totals.

  • Provide updates on progress made towards reaching the Club Goal.

  • Use your Impact Dashboard and Reports to celebrate mileage achievements!

  • Display the data and show kids the data!


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