• Learn that the heart needs to work hard and rest.

• Download and print Outside Fun and Fitness and Inside Fun and Fitness Coloring Activity Sheets for class distribution

• Outside Fun and Fitness and Inside Fun and Fitness Coloring Activity Sheets

Explore

1. As children sit quietly, have them place their hands on their chests and see whether they can feel the beat of their hearts. Explain that when we are resting or sleeping, our hearts beat more slowly than when we are being physically active. Ask children to repeat slowly after you: Thump...thump...thump
   
   
2. Teach children the activity game "Wise Owl Says." Have them use their fingers to make an owl—using their thumbs and index fingers to make circles for the eyes and their other fingers pointing up to make the feathers over the owl's eyes. Then play the game using the rules for the game "Simon Says." You might simplify the activity for younger children by not having them be out of the game when the leader does not say "Wise Owl says."

   Wise Owl has something to say:
   “Do a physical activity every day.”

   The leader then says "Wise Owl says" and gives a direction for a physical activity. Let as many children as possible have a turn at being the leader and giving a direction.

   Sample directions:
   Wise Owl says, "Circle your arms." Wise Owl says, "Lift each knee."
   Wise Owl says, "Stretch up high." Wise Owl says, "March in place."

3. Distribute Outside Fun and Fitness. Ask children to identify the physical activities that the people in the pictures are doing. Explain that physical activity includes anything that makes people move their bodies and that all physical activity is good for people's health.
   
   
4. Distribute Inside Fun and Fitness. Ask children to describe what the people in each scene are doing. How can some indoor activities help people stay healthy? Again focus on the idea that there are all kinds of physical activities. Even household chores, as long as they involve moving the body, count as physical activities. To demonstrate this point, have children imitate the movements involved in vacuuming, dusting and sweeping.
   
   
5. Ask children to color their activity sheets and display them in the classroom.