Puka (year 5 & 6 learners) of Ruawai Primary School have developed their own fitness circuit this term, showing awesome leadership and working together as a class.

Class teacher Adele Slatter came up with the idea to provide her students with the opportunity to design their own fitness circuit to improve their critical thinking, negotiating skills with one another, and increase their collaboration skills. The outcome was also to prepare the learners for their up and coming cross country.

Students put their skills to the kaupapa and utilising the school equipment set up and organised various activities such as running, skipping, agility ladders, a sprinting track and stair running. School Energizer, Paora Simon says “the positive influence and motivation from Adele was outstanding.”

When asked what things have they noticed since implementing their circuit, one of the student leaders Lucas says “since we started the trainings I have noticed that I have gotten fitter! So, we try and change the exercises as much as we can when we get used to the trainings. When it’s raining we do the activities inside our school hall and when it’s sunny we do them on the court”.

Principal Curtis says “since joining Energize we are now starting to see a major change in the way we deliver our health and physical education curriculum.  We are becoming far more deliberate in our planning and actions towards facilitating physical activity and healthy eating.  We now have a framework to follow and some measureable goals to achieve”.

“This is a great way to empower the learners by organising their own sessions like these, while ensuring all young people are safe and happy, it is a great way to promote participation, fitness and health” says Simon.

Check out some of the footage of all year 5 and 6 learners going over fitness, skills and drills.