Burdell-Hunt Elementary School
Genesis Rowe, a 2nd grade teacher at Burdell-Hunt Elementary in Bibb County, knows the importance of physical activity for her students. 
Each week her students participate in various forms of exercise while learning in the classroom. The entire class does jumping jacks while skip-counting, which leads to understanding multiplication. They exercise while learning spelling words by stretching up for tall letters (f, h, k, l, t) and bending down for low letters (j, g, y). They also walk in place with ‘high knees’ when learning how to count to twenty in Spanish.
Mrs. Rowe is also a believer of Brain Gyms. Brain Gyms are a series of exercises that improve classroom concentration and aid in learning. When you exercise the right side of your body, you activate your left brain. When you exercise the left side of your body, you activate your right brain. She uses Brain Gym exercises in her class to stimulate brain activity during testing.
Throughout the day, Mrs. Rowe allows her students to take exercise breaks which include jogging in place and stretching. When the weather warms up, Mrs. Rowe provides 30 minutes of recess for her students making sure they take part in activities such as ‘high knees’, ‘back kicks’, and skips.
Recently, HealthMPowers did a lesson about exercise in Mrs. Rowe’s class. According to Rowe, “Now that HealthMPowers has taught us how to stretch in our chairs and exercise indoors, we will definitely start doing this during the school day.” With teachers like Mrs. Rowe, students are now headed toward a healthier, happier life.