Transform-Us! uses innovative strategies within classroom, school and home settings to get students moving more and sitting less, helping students learn better as well as improving their health and wellbeing.
Active children have better brain and mental health, however, we also know that Australian school children spend more than two-thirds of their school day sitting. Enter Transform-Us! – a whole-of-school approach to physical activity which promotes movement throughout the day and is free for all Victorian Primary Schools.
Transform-Us! has been shown to promote children’s physical activity and benefit health outcomes. Results from the 2010-2013 Transform-Us! trial of more than 600 students found that 85% of students had greater concentration after an active break, and 79% of children had greater time-on-task after a standing lesson.
Rebecca Sprague, a teacher from regional Victoria, reported that Transform-Us! improved the behaviour and focus of her students, as well as having fewer behavioural issues in the classroom. This has subsequently decreased her workload. She said simple changes such as teaching the usual curriculum in more active ways (eg, active maths) and ‘active breaks’ after children have been sitting for a while can have positive impacts, saying students are “more engaged in a lesson when they get a chance to move their bodies”.
Providing a supportive environment is an important element of the program. Resources to create this environment include class tubs of physical activity equipment, standing or height adjustable desks or easels and playground line markings. Active homework ideas and resources are also provided so students can be active at home with their family, not just at school.
Free registration, training, and resources are available to all Victorian Primary Schools and classroom teachers. If you are working to increase active living, encourage primary schools in your area to take advantage of these resources and sign up today.