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3/30/2006
A March 28, 2006 article from The Associated Press spotlights an experimental classroom in Minnesota where, rather than being required to sit quietly at their desks, fourth- and fifth-grade students are encouraged to be as active as possible throughout the school day. Traditional desks have been replaced with podiums for standing, mats for kneeling, and large exercise balls for sitting. Calories burned are measured by sensors that are attached to each student's legs. The purpose of the experiment is to determine whether consistent movement will help to combat obesity in children. Health experts indicate that, even if successful, such adjustments in the classroom should be one aspect of a broader change in the daily diet, exercise, and lifestyle of students.
The article is available at the MSNBC Web site.
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