Jump Rope For Heart

By:

Saratoga Independent School

Jump Rope For Heart

All Students PreK-6

 

On Weds, April 24, 2013, Saratoga Independent School participated in Jump Rope for Heart. Through Jump Rope For Heart kids learn jump rope skills, how their heart works and raise money to help kids with special hearts.  
 

Our school was registered by visiting www.heart.org/jump (coordinated by our Physical Education teacher, Coach V!). Each child, Pre-K through 6th grade, was sent home with a pledge sheet and asked to collect donations. Reminders were sent home, and published to the school's portal, signs were hung, and partipation strongly encouraged by all students. (More information about coordinating and planning an event can be found here: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Giving/ForSchools/JumpRopeforHeartEvent/Event-Resources-for-Jump-Rope-For-Heart_UCM_444221_Article.jsp)

The day was perfect: beautiful weather, helpful parents, healthy refreshments, and energetic, enthusiastic participants. There were jumpers of all ages -- from our smallest Pre-K students up to our oldest graduating students, as well as teachers and parents!

 

We had high jumping challenges

 

 

 

Low jumping challenges!

 

 

 

Limbo contests

 

 

Long jumping contests

 

 

Hula hooping

 

 

And volleyball

  

Our Parent Association coordinated the donation of healthy snacks such as bananas, apples, grapes, watermelon, cantelope, fruit salad, crackers and cheese, baby carrots and homegrown tomatoes! We also had juice boxes, bottled water and sage and watermelon infused water to drink.

 

 

And when the kids were done eating, the remains from the snacks  provided us with good material for  our compost bins.

 

In addition, we were able to tie this event in with the children's studies of the circulatory system. Students learned how to find and take their pulses. After performing an activity, they were able to articulate the heart's response to increased exercise. During our Jump Rope for Heart day, students used their knowledge to take their pulses both after jump roping and after a period of rest, replicating our earlier findings.

 

 

Through Jump Rope for Heart our community raised $2,400 for the American Heart Association while keeping ourselves heart-healthy as well!