14/01/2011

SCHOOL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROJECT 2010 Human Movement Science students doing the HMS 327 Sport Management Specialization module were ...

2010 Human Movement Science students doing the HMS 327 Sport Management Specialization module were challenged with the task of providing a low-cost physical activity environment at 3 selected schools in the PE area (Booysens Park Primary, Enkwenkwezini Primary and Malabar Primary schools). Students put theory into practice – did a needs analyses, researched the various physical activity interventions, drew up a business proposal / project proposal, obtained funding and then implemented the intervention.

Students rose to the challenge: they sacrificed their September holiday break and painted court marking games for hopscotch, four-square and other games, they erected activity stations and provided each class with soccer, rugby and netballs and play equipment like tennis balls, skipping ropes, frisbees, and other inexpensive or recycled equipment. This was also part of a research initiative of Dr Walter who measured the physical activity levels of children using accelerometers (motion sensors).

The learners at these schools are playing, having fun and being physically active during break-times which was the main aim of the project and, in the words of one of the HMS students, “The skills and experiences learned from this project can never be learned from a textbook”.