Honestly, I can still hear myself ask that simple question to my Grade 5/6 Homeroom class at Deseronto Public School.
As we are a "Healthy Active School", we decided on coming up with something to help get others in our school board of Hastings-Prince Edward active and healthy as well. As we talked through idea after idea... "Burp It On" was born!
Through countless hours of prep work, my 5/6s and I launched our physical activity initiative on January 12, 2015, a week after our class completed the challenge. As the challenge worked its way throughout our school of 140 students, I began to utilize an amazingly powerful tool... Twitter!
In the early stages of our challenge, we were completely unsure where this project would end up. We had "dreams" of worldwide success, but I believe we would have been more than happy covering many schools from our school board, and maybe.... just maybe a couple schools further out in our province of Ontario. Twitter helped us change our thought process within the first month.
Yes, we did BEGIN our project at a local level (thanks Jennifer Ronan, P.O.W., P.C.B. And Tri-Board for getting the party started), but Twitter allowed us to expand our initiative to the edge of our province within the first few weeks, and to move into the United States a couple weeks later. As school after school accepted the challenge (and began to challenge others), the schools began pouring in. I loved coming into class getting ready to share our provincial, national, and international successes. The classroom engagement was beyond anything I have ever experienced.
As the success of the program began to materialize, my students became instrumental in promoting our initiative. Students wrote articles, were interviewed in newspapers, went to the local radio station, and presented to school board, town, and political dignitaries. We created informational videos, participated in a podcast, made promotional posters, and became role models to students around the world! Talk about real life learning!
Here are some of the students thoughts that have been gathered throughout the project:
“I enjoyed everything... the presentations, the meetings and most of all the challenge itself. The project is awesome in so many ways that I can't describe it.”
“I feel that being a part of this is amazing! I feel like this because we're a small class who made what should've been (and was supposed to be) a little project for our school board that was supposed to help raise physical activity in students. This "little" project has gone worldwide! That's freaking awesome! And our project has inspired a lot of people and made a difference in physical activity not only in students but everyone!”
“It is a fun ride of coolness. It was an adventure.”
“I felt good cause I know I am helping people around the world getting healthier.”
“I felt fantastic because my whole class and I made a difference in the world.”
“The way I feel about being a part of the burp it on project is that I enjoy being active with others. And why do I feel this way is cause I like being around and being active with others and having fun.”
“I feel really good about being a part of burp it on because I am a part of something big and good for the world”
“I really like the feeling that we could be walking around and hear people talking about the project and thinking "i was part of that" “
But the learning certainly didn't stop at my students. I have learned so much more from this project than I ever thought possible. Through this initiative I have discovered a Professional Learning Network that has opened my eyes to many professional opportunities. Whether it's beginning a "Mud Run", "unpacking" a P.E. Unit, participating in a "Burp It On" World Championship, or how to use an Apple Watch in P.E., I know that my PLN is only a tweet away.
So as "Burp It On" - Year 1 comes to an end with 252+ schools/organizations covering 6 continents, in 24 countries and an estimated 12 600 challenges completed... I pinch myself and try to return to reality. What will Year 2 have in store? I guess we will all have to wait and see!
Thank you to EVERYONE who has supported this worthwhile cause... You have helped us make a difference!
Jason Lloyd
Teacher of the amazing Grade 5/6s at Deseronto PS