American Circus Educators Magazine Spring 2014 (Issue 1, Vol 1) | Page 8

FEATURE RECIPE c b g s throughout the school day has been shown to have particularly positive effects on academic achievement. Studies have shown that Instant Recess, for instance, can result in an 11 percent increase in the percentage of time students devoted to on-task behavior. The Energizers program yielded an eight percent rise in on- task behavior, but with a 20 percent improvement among students who have particular trouble focusing. Here in New York, the Physical Activity Workgroup created several similar activities of our own. We began by asking teachers and practicing artists in physical activity areas (e.g. circus arts, dance, theater) for activities that teachers could adapt for their classrooms. One example from circus was “The ABC’s of Acrobatics,” an activity created by Karen Gersch, a physical arts practitioner, long-time circus performer and master teacher. During the exercise, students learn a progression of standard positions required for tumbling, acrobatics, and human pyramids in a physical call- and-response format: the instructor demonstrates, student s copy the moves, and then the instructor calls out the moves by name in a random order. It’s great fun, the kids love it, and it gets them moving. Another example was my own “The 7 Stages of Laughter,” a 7-minute, full-body activ- your way. Giving teachers the support they need to embed physical activi- ity that gets oxygen flowing through a child’s system quickly, thus improving ty into their lesson plans, and giving students the gift of health and better their ability to focus. Imagine the fun brain development will keep you and infectious laughter as students “top of mind” when it comes time to (and teacher) laugh long and hard. book a circus arts educator. For those of us in circus arts and For more information about this circus arts education, the effect of program, you are welcome to call these sorts of activities might seem Carlo at 845-348-8740 or email him obvious. But in Rockland the results have been dramatic. Rockland County at [email protected]. is ranked 3rd healthiest county in New York State according to an annual ADDITIONAL RESOURCES report issued by the Robert Wood A full video with many statistics and resources Johnson Foundation and the Univer- about physical activity in the classroom and research sity of Wisconsin Population Health about how it affects the brain and academic Institute! This didn't happen by itself. achievementcan be found on the Amazing Grace CIRCUS! website. See www.amazinggracecircus.org The success of our Physical Activity and click on Physical Activity in the Classroom on Workgroup has also led to an annual the home page. event, “March Forward,” a regular, annual collaboration between schools http://www.rocklandsteps.org/index.php?section=- to promote the connection between march-forward physical activity, academic achieve- “Do Short Physical Activity Brain Breaks in the Classroom ment, and health. Work?” prepared by Active Living Research,Building As practitioners of circus arts in education, you may want to suggest to your local school administrators that they consider adding more physicality, including circus arts, in their classrooms. Feel free to pass on the information provided on the Rockland Steps website (see side). You could even create your own “March Forward” next year. What’s more, through such “consultative sell- ing” you may find more work coming Evidence to Prevent Childhood Obesity and Support Active Communities, February 2013 “Exploring the Link between Physical Activity, Fitness and Cognitive Function”, prepared for the Illinois Enhance Physical Education Task Force, March 2013 “The Association Between School-Based Physical i a r m n n e o n a e o a m o n n a n t h i e BY EMMY’S ORGANICS This recipe is perfect for a Green Smoothie beginner or for anyone who is looking to add some more green into their diet. It is sweet, hearty, and packed with nutrition that will certainly give you a morning or midday boost! Enjoy! Yields 2½ cups 2 cups unsweetened almond milk (store bought or fresh) 2 frozen bananas* 1½ packed cups fresh, washed spinach 1 tbsp raw hulled hemp seeds ½ tsp ground cinnamon 1 pinch Himalayan salt Combine all ingredients in a blender (regular or high speed) and blend until smooth. If you are using frozen bananas in a regular blender, cut bananas into small pieces. Serve as soon as possible; fresh is best. Can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 24 hours. *If you do not have frozen bananas on hand, use fresh bananas and add a cup of ice. The frozen element adds to the creaminess of this smoothie! Activity, Including Physical Education, and Academic Performance”, prepared by the U.S. Department of Emmy’s Organics is a vegan, gluten-free and Non-GMO Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control food company based in Ithaca, NY just a few blocks and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease away from the ACE/AYCO headquarters. Emmy’s is Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Adolesc- committed to creating clean, energizing and delicious ent and School Health, www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth, foods that keep you going while doing the things you Revised Version — July 2010 love! More information at emmysorganics.com 08