Fun with fitness: Gussner fifth-graders move, part of ‘Adventure to Fitness’

Every week, students in Michelle Kukowski’s fifth-grade class at Gussner Elementary School go on an adventure — to the lost continent of Atlantis or to Greece, Australia and other real nations.

Their real destination, though, is fitness, and Kukowski supplements gym classes with classroom-based videos and activities from the interactive Adventure to Fitness website.

“They get to go to different places and learn about different cultures, as well as getting the fitness part of it,” Kukowski said.

Two classes at Montpelier Public Schools were previously selected as top Adventure to Fitness schools in North Dakota.

With the help of a weekly 30-minute video, the kids use their imaginations to travel all over the world with intrepid adventurer Mr. Marc, portrayed by entertainer and athlete Marc Loyd.

On his travels, Mr. Marc often has to run, climb, leap or hop on one foot, and the students follow suit, running, climbing, leaping or hopping in place right in their classrooms.

Meanwhile, they do their best to come out ahead in their encounters with Mr. Lazé (pronounced luh-ZAY), whose health habits are, in a word, bad.

“He’s lazy, and all he eats is candy, and he leaves his wrappers everywhere,” explained Megan Albrecht, 11, one of Kukowski’s students.

“He cheats,” added her fellow student, Courtney Mack, 11.

Along the way, the weekly Adventure to Fitness movies include little tidbits of information about staying healthy, eating right and getting plenty of water to drink.

Kukowski’s students go to gym class three days a week — currently they’re learning the ins and outs of disc golf — but they also have recess every day, Megan said. They use that time to play volleyball, football and soccer.

On Mondays, a day when they don’t have gym class, they get to Adventure to Fitness.

“I’d recommend it to every classroom in the world, because it really gets you moving,” said Thomas Schmiedeberg, 10.

Recently, Kukowski’s students were featured in the Adventure Spotlight of the Adventure to Fitness website, and they got to have a conversation via video chat with Mr. Marc himself.

“He asked us questions,” Courtney said.

He also asked for ideas. One person suggested Mr. Marc should visit the moon, recalled Eli Horsted, 11.

He also asked students for suggestions on how they could get Mr. Laze to eat his vegetables. One suggested blending them into a smoothie.

None of them want to be like Mr. Lazé, who not only cheats at contests but also whines a lot and doesn’t run very fast.

Kukowski’s students say they’ve learned a lot from joining the Adventure.

“It’s very good to drink water and milk, and good stuff, and eat vegetables and fruit,” Megan said.

“Stay energized. Keep moving,” Courtney added.

“Eat healthy things,” Eli said.

“Eat a lot of healthy foods,” Thomas chimed in.

“Never be afraid of adventure,” Megan added.

For more information about Adventure to Fitness, visit adventureto fitness.com.

Sun reporter Kari Lucin can be

reached at 701-952-8453

or by email at

klucin@jamestownsun.com

Tags: life, community, education