PLT4M Essay Contest Finalist – Alma Jones

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]PLT4M hosted an essay contest for students across the country. Check out the full prompt here. We asked students: In less than 750 words, you have to convince ‘Sedentary Industries’ that physical education is important to you. Why does physical activity and fitness matter to you? We received hundreds of submissions and are now down to the finalists. Congrats to Alma Jones from Jordan High School in Utah for being a finalist![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Alma’s Essay”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Dear ‘Sedentary Industries’ , 

INTRODUCTION

Regarding the recent headquarters being built in Sandy, and the policies you wish to enact about the removal of physical activity and fitness from the high school experience. I would briefly like to cover why that may be a bad idea on your part, and the negative implications it may impose on the students. Throughout this letter, I’m going to be discussing the direct impact physical activity has on brain function and how it governs the retention of knowledge.

SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

Physical activity has many positive impacts on the brain and how it functions. A study from the California Department of Education has shown that students with higher fitness scores consequently have higher test scores. This is because exercise primes the brain to learn quicker. Another study was also done that showed that students who did HIIT (high-intensity interval training) prior to learning vocabulary could do so 20% quicker than the other sedentary students.  Now let’s talk about something called Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (aka BDNF). BDNF is a protein in the brain. In order for us to learn, the brain needs to modify its cellular infrastructure to allow the firing of neurons to happen more easily. BDNF itself stimulates neuron growth, and how well they function, not to mention it helps strengthen neurons to protect against the process of cell death. Why am I talking about this, you may ask? BDNF is released through exercise and movement. It is the link between the brain and the body. To simplify, more exercise means more BDNF, more BDNF means better performance in school. 

ARCHAIC HISTORY

The Lives of our ancestors compared to our modern era, were much different than life today. When our ancestors were subjected to physical activity, it was merely for the sake of survival. Movement stimulates that something important is happening, and survival was extremely important. When we’re sedentary, it’s signaling to our bodies that we’re safe and that nothing important is happening. Sitting in a classroom all day without physical activity signals our bodies that nothing important is happening, therefore, there’s no need to retain information. 

NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS/CLOSING

Removing physical education from high school may be the last thing you may want to do if you have the students best interest at heart. Doing so would be a huge disservice to high schoolers now, and highschoolers to come. The removal of physical activity WILL HINDER the development of the students, and I strongly urge you to reconsider your stance on this situation. I believe you guys will do the right thing.  Yours Sincerely, Alma Jones [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Share this article:

Recent Posts

Interested if PLT4M can work at your school?

Schedule a Free Demo

Follow Us!

PLT4M avatar; PLT4M @PLT4M ·
9 Oct 2108611796122632196

💭 Friday Thoughts: Kids in the U.S. need more physical activity.

The national grade is a D-. Schools play a key role in changing that, and PE is where it starts. 💪

See how you can get activity time up for students 👉 https://get.plt4m.com/4jRTHOq

Source: Physical Activity

Image for the Tweet beginning: 💭 Friday Thoughts: Kids in Twitter feed image.
Image for the Tweet beginning: 💭 Friday Thoughts: Kids in Twitter feed image.
Image for the Tweet beginning: 💭 Friday Thoughts: Kids in Twitter feed image.
Image for the Tweet beginning: 💭 Friday Thoughts: Kids in Twitter feed image.
Reply on Twitter 2108611796122632196 Retweet on Twitter 2108611796122632196 1 Like on Twitter 2108611796122632196 1 Twitter 2108611796122632196
PLT4M avatar; PLT4M @PLT4M ·
5 Oct 2107125766836146395

"Add health to PE." With what time? 🤔

Health doesn't need a new time slot. It can live inside the activities K-5 students are already doing.

Free webinar Wed 10/7, 1 PM ET: the Active Health model, 4 activities reimagined, and one full lesson. 👇

https://get.plt4m.com/3W89EpS

Image for the Tweet beginning: "Add health to PE." With Twitter feed image.
Reply on Twitter 2107125766836146395 Retweet on Twitter 2107125766836146395 0 Like on Twitter 2107125766836146395 0 Twitter 2107125766836146395
PLT4M avatar; PLT4M @PLT4M ·
30 Sep 2105312907563089971

Admins want health covered in elementary PE. 🤔 But when?

You see students once or twice a week, and every minute is already full of skills, games, and fitness.
What if health lived inside the activities you already run? 💡

✅ No new time slot
✅ No lost activity time
✅ A real

Image for the Tweet beginning: Admins want health covered in Twitter feed image.
Reply on Twitter 2105312907563089971 Retweet on Twitter 2105312907563089971 1 Like on Twitter 2105312907563089971 1 Twitter 2105312907563089971
PLT4M avatar; PLT4M @PLT4M ·
28 Sep 2104621088906887611

The class is at the door. 🚪 Are you ready for them?

Start every class with a simple warm-up that gets students settled and moving right away. Just press play and follow along:
⏱️ 4 Minute Fitness
🍅 Pick A Side
🔴 Pick A Poly Spot
🏃 Locomotor Laps

Fun, quick, and ready for

Reply on Twitter 2104621088906887611 Retweet on Twitter 2104621088906887611 1 Like on Twitter 2104621088906887611 2 Twitter 2104621088906887611
PLT4M avatar; PLT4M @PLT4M ·
22 Sep 2102397691355373649

🚨 Free Webinar + Trial In One!

Come build a semester of PE in an hour. Seriously.

Not watch someone else build one — actually build yours. Live, on your own laptop, with a free account in hand.

Fitness, games, health, and whatever else you want to build — mapped into a real,

Reply on Twitter 2102397691355373649 Retweet on Twitter 2102397691355373649 2 Like on Twitter 2102397691355373649 2 Twitter 2102397691355373649
PLT4M avatar; PLT4M @PLT4M ·
18 Sep 2100964288663781584

Does technology in PE actually enhance learning, or just add more to manage? 🤔

Real PE teachers weigh in on the 6 keys that make it work — from visual instruction to student ownership — without adding stress or screen-time distractions.

Take a deep dive into how it all comes

Reply on Twitter 2100964288663781584 Retweet on Twitter 2100964288663781584 2 Like on Twitter 2100964288663781584 3 Twitter 2100964288663781584
Load More
Facebook Instagram Youtube