It's a new kind of classroom at Marine Elementary School, one where students are "Standing Up for Learning!" as a unique alternative to traditional student desks. This new and innovative program is designed to impact students in two important ways; it addresses the alarming rise of childhood obesity in our country and it strives to improve time on task and academic achievement.
On October 22, Marine Elementary's sixth grade classroom was outfitted with new, adjustable height work stations, custom built and designed for Marine Elementary. Each work station can be adjusted to the individual height of a student. It can even be lowered to the height of a traditional "sit down" desk, if necessary. Adjustable height stools were added to the classroom, providing a means for students to sit when they feel fatigued.
Grant monies awarded in the spring of 2007 from the Education Minnesota Foundation and the Stillwater Partnership Plan allowed Marine Elementary to begin the project this fall. A grant from the Tozer Foundation has provided monies to expand the project by adding more standing work stations to the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade classrooms in late November. Additional financial support has also been provided by the United Way's Kay Clint Fund for Emerging Needs, Security State Bank of Marine, Scandia/Marine Lions Club, Marine School Association and local community members.
The students are already noticing some positive changes. The sixth graders have reported:
- An increased awareness of their posture
- The feeling of being more alert, awake and focused
- Improved handwriting
- A less confined, cramped work space
- Relieved anxiety about moving and repositioning
- Increased physical activity and the ability to burn off extra energy
- Improved muscle strength and endurance in the legs
- A flexible, more individualized approach to personal work habits
It is felt that this project will become a model approach for how schools can promote natural energy expenditure while learning and will play an important role in positively impacting the health of children. Researchers from the University of Minnesota's Department of Education, Kinesiology, and members of TREC (Transdisciplinary Research on Energetics and Cancer) have begun investigations in university labs to measure oxygen uptake, which will allow calculation of caloric expenditure. The lab studies also measure the amount of brain blood flow during sitting and standing, and the measure of physical activity during sitting and standing. Accelerometers will be used in the classroom to measure energy expenditure in this new environment as compared to a control group. The Education Minnesota Foundation and Ypsilon Associates are also assisting with classroom observations to determine time on task and impact on academic achievement.
The "Standing Up for Learning!" project has certainly attracted local media attention. Marine Elementary and the inspiration for this project, 6th grade teacher Abby Brown, have been featured twice in the Stillwater Gazette and also highlighted on the WCCO Channel 4 News and the FOX 9 at 9 News. It's an exciting new concept that could become the norm for the classroom of the future. We are proud to be able to say, "It all started here; we're
Standing Up For Learning at Marine Elementary!"
Additional Article Links: As seen on WCCO News November 12, 2007
http://wcco.com/education/stand.up.desks.2.566063.htmlAs seen on FOX 9 News November 26, 2007
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=5045087&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.2.1Stillwater Gazette December 3, 2007
http://www.stillwatergazette.com/articles/2007/11/28/news/news400.txt
