Children from Earlsdon Primary School are embarking on a
four-week 'virtual' walk from Land's End to John o'Groats as part
of a physical activity research project run by Coventry
University's Sports and Exercise Science team.
The project, which is funded by the Tanita Healthy Weight Trust
in Japan, sees the children using pedometers to track the number of
steps they take each day and convert these to miles as they
progress on their virtual journey through the UK.
The aim of the research is to promote the health benefits of
exercise to the children by putting the fun into physical activity
and feeding back the information gathered to show the science
behind what they're doing.
Earlsdon Primary School pupils have also been taking part in
active video gaming sessions during school lunch times, using
Microsoft Xboxes connected to stepping machines which only enable
the games to be played if the children continue stepping. The idea
is that an activity normally associated with lack of exercise
become much more physically active.
As part of the project, the children are also visiting the Sport
and Exercise Science laboratories at Coventry University to take
part in interactive sessions during which they can measure their
power during sprinting, explore movement skills, take their heart
rates and understand how fitness testing relates to leading a
healthy lifestyle.
Michael Duncan, senior lecturer in Sports Science at Coventry
University, said:
"We're delighted to offer the kids this opportunity to come into
the University and learn how science relates to their everyday
exercise and sport activities. It also gives them an
experience of what University life is like and specifically what is
involved with being a sport and exercise scientist."
For more information about Coventry University, please visit
their website here: www.coventry.ac.uk