Clay Middle School part-time wellness teacher Heidi Stan wants her students to be active physically, mentally and socially.
So, Stan formulated a plan and applied for and received a $6,000 grant through a partnership of College Football Playoff Foundation, the Big Ten Conference and Indiana Sports Corp. Stan was one of 15 teachers who received the grant during a timeout at the Big Ten football championship game Dec. 1 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Because of Carmel Clay Schools’ block schedule classes, Stan said students can sit for more than 90 minutes at a time.
“Therefore, teachers must use hands-on and engaging lessons that provide the students with opportunities for frequent brain boosts (movement) to keep them engaged in their full potential for learning,” Stan said. “Spurring movement boosts blood flow, sending oxygen to the brain, which is proven to help students better retain information, increase on-task behaviors and, of course, physical activity is good for their physical health. This is especially true with the endless streams of media they are exposed to and with the decline in physical education and recess time allotted in schools.”
The grant will cover equipment such as bucket games, cornhole, ring toss, PaddleZlam, Yard Pong, bowling, curling, hacky sack birdies, sound systems/microphones, Giant Uno and more.
Stan, who lives in Carmel, began teaching at Clay Middle School this school year. She previously taught 11 years at Riverside Junior High in Fishers.
