Recess Guardians Taking Back the Playground

Meet the Team Michael McDonald Bachelor of Kinesiology from U of S Recess Guardians Executive Director Certified Personal Trainer Exercise Expert

Why is Recess Important? 23 ½ Hours 23 ½ Hours Playworks

Problems with Recess BullyingGossiping Physical Inactivity Boredom- Unbusy hands can lead to bad situations More harm done than good

Reasons Students grow up too quickly, forget how to play Unfamiliar with games to play No one will take responsibility for getting game started

The Act of Play Play is a lost art Students grow up too quickly Play is crucial in ones upbringing Recess is a time for kids to be just that... Kids! Prescription for Play Prescription for Play

Facts Bullying occurs once every 7 minutes on the playground Obesity rates among children and youth aged 2 to 17 years are staggering Childhood Obesity Childhood Obesity Increasing amount of interactive, immobile games Source: Stop a Bully,

Past Programs Canadian Intramural Recreation Association of Ontario (CIRA) Canadian Intramural Recreation Association of Ontario (CIRA) P.A.L.S. (Playground Activity Leaders in Schools) P.A.L.S. (Playground Activity Leaders in Schools) PROPS (Peers Running Organized Play Stations) PROPS (Peers Running Organized Play Stations) Active Playgrounds Active Playgrounds Source: The City of Hamilton Public Health Services

Our Advantage Empowering students through peer leadership On-the-ground interaction Ownership and Accountability

A Safe Recess Should: Promote FUN and participation Increase physical activity levels Teach movement and dexterity skills Promote creativity and problem solving Reduce bullying Promote fair play Teach cooperation and respect Provide equal opportunity for all

Mission Recess Guardians’ mission is to motivate children to bring positive attitudes to the playground, while teaching their peers how to play in an energetic, fun and constructive way.

What is Recess Guardians? How to play Leadership Skills Empowerment CTV Interview CTV Interview

Recess Guardians Musts A teacher who will take responsibility for the program A way to get equipment out on the playground School must show excitement behind it, reward the students for taking a leadership role

How it All Began Started September, 2008 Started as drop in program In 11 Core Community Schools in Saskatoon Kids participated, but turnout varied greatly

Year One Analysis Pros Kids had fun Learnt games to play in their own time Received shirts Has positive grown-up role models Cons Turnout was inconsistent Sometimes wouldn’t play the games if they didn’t like them off the start Inexperienced adult volunteers

Changes Have a group of 8-16 students assigned to the program, grades 4-8 Decrease the amount of schools Have the same coaches at each school Students must participate or they won’t be welcome back

The RG Model: Option Children Grades 4-8 Minimum of 12 sessions 1 day a week, 1 hour after school 1-2 Volunteers per school

Option 1 Positives Get different students working together Allowing only the students who want to attend, to attend Extra physical activity during the day Negatives Not giving every student a chance to participate Inconsistent turnout, having to chase students after school Other activities can get in the way

The RG Model: Option 2 One entire class during Phys. Ed. Time Grades 4, 5, or 6 6 to 12 sessions 1 day a week Either volunteer(s) or teacher

Option 2 Positives Everyone has a chance to succeed and participate Teacher is there to see how it is run Consistent attendance Negatives Disruption from children who don’t want to play the games Not having physical activity after school, cuts down on time they are active

The RG Model: Option 3 One entire class during Phys. Ed. Time Grades 4, 5, or 6 6 to 8 sessions 3 to 4 days a week for 2 consecutive weeks Either volunteer(s) or teacher

Option 3 Positives Everyone has a chance to participate Sessions are close together so they can remember the games better Teacher is present Negatives Students who don’t want to play may distract others

Now What?

Volunteer Volunteer or teacher? In a volunteer you want someone: ReliableEnergeticPositive Likes to play

Games Decide on a group of games Should require very little or no equipment Easy to organize Popular

Games cont’d. Teach most of the games in the first 3 to 4 sessions Have the students replay the games after that, but always add in a new game for each session Get a student to explain the rules to the other students, allows them to lead their peers For last session or two, bring care partners in for the class to teach them

Teacher’s Role Be EXCITED! Organize students on the playground Get the students participating in the learning sessions

Teacher’s Role cont’d. Different organizational ideas: Assign 2 groups of students (3 in each group) to organize games at recess. Have them come up with one game idea, and to run it for a specific recess. Change up groups for each recess.

Teacher’s Role cont’d. More ideas: Have two students bring out equipment at recess and allow others to play with it. Have them work one on one, or in a group with younger children and teach them to throw/catch. Run indoor recesses with the games they were taught.

Physical Literacy Push Sport Manitoba’s “Games with a purpose” Teach the students these skills Have them work with younger students on the playground with these skills Students love teaching younger students

Physical Literacy Have the students set up circuits in the gym for the students to do for indoor recess Students love to be EMPOWERED Obstacle courses and relays work great for this type of program

Questions

Michael McDonald Thank You!